[Technical Field]
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus. Specifically, the
present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus that has a separate space
for caring for, storing, and displaying laundry or items.
[Background]
[0002] A laundry treating apparatus refers to an apparatus developed for washing and drying
laundry at home and in a laundry, and for removing wrinkles on the laundry. What is
classified as the laundry treating apparatus includes a washing machine that washes
the laundry, a dryer that dries the laundry, a washing machine/dryer that has both
a washing function and a drying function, a clothes care apparatus that refreshes
the laundry, a steamer that removes the wrinkles from the laundry, and the like.
[0003] In particular, the clothes care apparatus is an apparatus that helps keep the laundry
fresh and clean. The clothes care apparatus may remove fine dust attached to the laundry,
deodorize the laundry, dry the laundry, and add fragrance to the laundry. In addition,
generation of static electricity may be prevented, wrinkles may be removed from the
laundry using dehumidified air or steam, and the laundry may be sterilized.
[0004] Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2014-0108454 discloses a typical laundry treating apparatus. That is, in a case of the typical
laundry treating apparatus, a treatment room in which the laundry is accommodated
and cared for using steam and hot air is formed inside a cabinet, and a hanger bar
where the laundry is hung extends in a left and right direction inside the treatment
room. A machinery room containing mechanical devices necessary for the laundry caring
may be located under the treatment room and may supply hot air and steam to the treatment
room. Additionally, when the laundry is hung on the hanger bar using a hanger, the
laundry may be disposed in a front and rear direction of the cabinet. Additionally,
the treatment room may be equipped with a shelf where a bag, a hat, and other goods
that require care may be mounted.
[0005] However, this is an apparatus that focuses on simply caring for the laundry. Therefore,
there is no separate space to display or store laundry inside. Additionally, using
the treatment room may not also be energy efficient when an amount of laundry to be
cared for is small. In one example, when a front surface of the door is made of a
transparent material such that a user may check the laundry hung inside, an insulation
performance via the front surface of the door is reduced, making it difficult to achieve
the purpose of laundry caring.
[0006] In addition, because the hanger bar may only move in the left and right direction
from a fixed location, there may be inconvenience in the user having to reach inside
the treatment room to hang the laundry when hanging the laundry.
[0007] In addition, with a development of clothes and accessories made of various materials,
there may be a need for a space to separately store and display laundry that require
delicate care, such as a leather product or a silk product, or a separate space where
temperature and humidity may be adjusted on a regular basis to store and display items
such as the bag or the hat.
[0008] Additionally, the existing laundry treating apparatus is an apparatus that focuses
on simply caring for the laundry. Therefore, there is a problem in that a separate
display room or showcase room to store and display the laundry must be prepared. In
addition, even when the separate display room is defined in the laundry treating apparatus,
it is necessary to control the display room separately from the treatment room. Additionally,
to make the display room or showcase room stand out, there may be a need for a lighting
device that may change intensity and color of lighting in the display room or the
showcase room.
[0009] Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2019-0141286 discloses a laundry treating apparatus that separately has the treatment room for
accommodating therein and caring for the laundry and a storage room where laundry
that has been cared for is stored and the temperature is adjustable. However, there
is a problem in that the laundry treating apparatus takes up a great amount of space
indoors because the treatment room and the storage room are arranged in the left and
right direction. In addition, because an air conditioner for the storage room is not
disposed separately, but an air conditioner for the treatment room is used in the
storage room in a connected manner, independent temperature and humidity adjustment
only for the laundry stored in the storage room is not available during use of the
treatment room.
[0010] In one example,
Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2019-0139400 discloses a laundry treating apparatus with the treatment room and the storage room
divided from each other in the front and rear direction, but a laundry caring function
is equipped only in the treatment room and there is no separate mechanical device
to manage the temperature and the humidity of the storage room. When the laundry that
has been treated or cared for is simply stored in the storage room, the stored laundry
may be affected by changes in surrounding temperature and humidity. For example, when
the laundry is stored without the temperature and humidity adjustment, a moisture
content of the laundry may increase and the laundry may become damp, or surrounding
odors may be absorbed again. To solve such problem, an apparatus to manage the temperature
and the humidity of the laundry even during the storage is needed.
[0011] In addition,
Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2019-0139400 discloses a laundry treating apparatus in which the treatment room on a front side
and the storage room on a rear side are separated from each other and the treatment
room is hinged to a side surface of the storage room. However, considering an usage
environment in which the laundry treating apparatus is used, a size of the laundry
treating apparatus has no choice but to consider a standard size of furniture such
as a typical closet. This is because the laundry treating apparatus is disposed next
to or adjacent to the closet rather than being disposed alone indoors, away from the
closet. Therefore, when the treatment room and the storage room are coupled to each
other in a form similar to the hinge coupling of the typical door, durability of the
hinge may be a problem because of a size of the treatment room, and interference may
occur with the furniture located near when the treatment room pivots relative to the
storage room. To solve such problem, the laundry treating apparatus should protrude
forward as much as the size of the treatment room to resolve the interference between
the surrounding furniture and the hinge. However, when the laundry treating apparatus
protrudes more than other furniture, sense of unity with the surrounding furniture
may be ruined.
[0012] Additionally, a new hinge structure that may withstand loads of the structure for
the display room and the structure for supporting the display room may be needed.
Additionally, the display room may be used as a space to show the accommodated laundry
or the goods to the user and at the same time as a space where the laundry or the
goods are able to be cared for. Therefore, it is necessary to have a separate mechanical
device that may adjust the temperature and the humidity for the display room.
[Summary]
[Technical Problem]
[0013] First, the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus with a space
divided into a first chamber and a second chamber for caring of laundry or goods.
[0014] Second, the present disclosure is to provide the second chamber where temperature
and humidity may be adjusted independently of the first chamber where temperature
and humidity may be adjusted for sterilization, deodorization, drying, and wrinkle
removal of laundry or goods.
[0015] Third, the present disclosure is to provide a hinge structure that may prevent interference
with adjacent furniture when opening and closing a door assembly containing a second
chamber, considering a size of the second chamber.
[0016] Fourth, the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus where a
hanger bar is disposed and an air circulation direction based on the hanger bar is
set, considering a size of a space of the first chamber with a length in a front and
rear direction reduced by the second chamber.
[0017] Fifth, the present disclosure is to provide a door assembly that may be automatically
withdrawn from a cabinet by sensing opening of the door assembly by a user.
[0018] Sixth, the present disclosure is to enable check of laundry or goods accommodated
in the second chamber via a front surface of the door assembly.
[0019] Seventh, the present disclosure is to allow illuminance and color of a lighting that
emits light toward the second chamber to be changed depending on the laundry or the
goods.
[0020] Eighth, the present disclosure is to provide a first chamber, which performs a course
to care for laundry by receiving steam or hot air based on the course selected by
the user, and a second chamber that constantly monitors internal temperature and humidity
based on settings of the user for laundry accommodated therein.
[0021] Ninth, the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that includes
a treatment space that intensively cares for laundry by spraying hot air and/or steam,
and a showcase room that enables display and caring, in a divided manner.
[0022] Tenth, the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that may
adjust temperature and humidity of the showcase room, independently of the treatment
space where sterilization, drying, and wrinkle removal are performed.
[0023] Eleventh, the present disclosure is to enable temperature and humidity adjustment
of the showcase room.
[0024] Twelfth, the present disclosure is to allow intensity or color of a lighting disposed
in the showcase room to be changed based on selection of a user.
[Technical Solutions]
[0025] To solve the above-mentioned problems, provided is a laundry treating apparatus that
simultaneously includes a styling area for caring for laundry and a showcase area
for displaying laundry while caring for the same at all times. By dividing the styling
area and the showcase area from each other, a front surface of the showcase area may
be made of a transparent material, so that an insulation performance of the styling
area may be maintained while interior check is available.
[0026] Reflecting a size of the styling area that is reduced because of the showcase area,
a hanger bar of the laundry treating apparatus may be disposed in a front and rear
direction. On the other hand, an air circulation direction in a first chamber of the
laundry treating apparatus may be a left and right direction.
[0027] Independently of air circulation and steam spray in the styling area, the laundry
treating apparatus may include an air circulator and an air treater to adjust temperature
and humidity in the showcase area.
[0028] The laundry treating apparatus may include a lighting device whose intensity and
color may be adjusted to suit the laundry or items accommodated in the showcase area.
[0029] Considering a size of the showcase area, a door assembly including the showcase may
be automatically extended and then slid. In addition, a separate door accessing the
showcase may use a push & pull method.
[0030] The interior lighting of the showcase provides various adjustment modes to be changed
to suit the laundry and goods being stored.
[0031] More specifically, to solve the above-mentioned problems, a laundry treating apparatus
described in the present disclosure includes a cabinet including a first inlet defined
in a front surface thereof, a first chamber that is located inside the cabinet and
accommodates laundry therein via the first inlet, a second chamber located at a lower
side inside the cabinet and defining therein an installation space separated from
the first chamber, an air supply that is disposed inside the second chamber and circulates
air in the first chamber, a steam supply that is disposed inside the second chamber
and generates steam and supply steam to the first chamber, and a door assembly that
is coupled to the cabinet and opens and closes the first inlet.
[0032] The door assembly may include an accommodating body including a second inlet defined
in a front surface thereof, an accommodating space defined inside the accommodating
body to accommodate goods including the laundry, an air circulator that is located
inside the accommodating body and circulates air in the accommodating space or supplies
hot air, and an air treater that is located inside the accommodating body and circulates
or dehumidifies air in the accommodating space.
[0033] Further, the air circulator and the air treater may operate independently of the
air supply and the steam supply.
[0034] Therefore, the air circulator and the air treater may be operable even when the door
assembly is opened.
[0035] The air circulator may be located upwardly of a top surface of the accommodating
space, and the air treater may be located downwardly of a bottom surface of the accommodating
space.
[0036] The air circulator may include a circulating flow channel allowing air in the accommodating
space to flow, and a heater that heats air passing through the circulating flow channel,
and the air treater may include a treating flow channel allowing air in the accommodating
space to flow, and a dehumidifier that dehumidifies air passing through the treating
flow channel.
[0037] The heater may include a circulating fan that is located in the circulating flow
channel and sucks air in the accommodating space, and a circulating heater that is
located in the circulating flow channel and heats air passing through the circulating
flow channel.
[0038] The dehumidifier may include a treating fan that is located in the treating flow
channel and sucks air in the accommodating space, a thermoelectric module that cools
and heats air passing through the treating flow channel, and a heat dissipating fan
that dissipates heat generated from the thermoelectric module into air passing through
the treating flow channel.
[0039] The laundry treating apparatus may further include a hanger assembly that is located
inside the accommodating space and hangs the laundry thereon.
[0040] The hanger assembly may include a hanger housing forming an outer appearance of the
hanger assembly, a hanger fan that is disposed in the hanger housing and sucks air
in the accommodating space, a hanger heater that heats air sucked by the hanger fan,
and a steam unit that is located under the hanger fan in the hanger housing and supplies
steam to the laundry hung on the hanger assembly.
[0041] Further, the laundry treating apparatus may further include an inputter/outputter
that is disposed in the door assembly and receives an input of a user or display information,
and a controller that controls the air supply, the steam supply, the heater, the dehumidifier,
the hanger assembly, and the inputter/outputter.
[0042] The controller may operate the steam unit to supply steam for a preset first pattern
time, and operate the hanger fan and the hanger heater for a preset second pattern
time when the first pattern time elapses.
[0043] Further, the controller may operate the dehumidifier for the second pattern time.
[0044] Further, the controller may operate the heater for the first pattern time and the
second pattern time.
[0045] In one example, the controller may operate the steam unit to supply steam for a preset
first control time, and operate the hanger fan for a preset second control time when
the first control time elapses.
[0046] Further, the controller may operate the dehumidifier for the second control time.
[0047] Further, the controller may operate the heater for the second control time.
[0048] In one example, the controller may operate the hanger fan, the hanger heater, the
heater, and the dehumidifier for a preset treatment time.
[0049] Further, the controller may, after performing a preset treatment mode to care for
the goods by operating the hanger assembly, the air circulator, and the air treater,
operate the air circulator and the air treater to maintain a temperature and a humidity
of the accommodating space at a preset storage temperature and a preset storage humidity.
[0050] Further, the door assembly may further include a proximity sensor that is disposed
in the door assembly and determines whether the user is located within a sensing area,
and the controller may, after performing the treatment mode, determine whether the
user is located within the sensing area for a preset sensing time via the proximity
sensor, and operate the hanger assembly, the air circulator, and the air treater for
a preset caring time when it is determined that the user has left the sensing area
for the sensing time or longer.
[Advantageous Effects]
[0051] First, the present disclosure may provide the laundry treating apparatus with the
space divided into the first chamber that accommodates the laundry or the goods therein
and the second chamber that accommodates the laundry or the goods therein separately
from the first chamber.
[0052] Second, the present disclosure may independently adjust the temperature and the humidity
of the first chamber and the temperature and the humidity of the second chamber independently
of each other.
[0053] Third, the present disclosure may prevent the interference with the adjacent furniture
when the door assembly is opened and closed considering the size of the second chamber
disposed inside the door assembly.
[0054] Fourth, the present disclosure may provide the laundry treating apparatus in which
the air circulation direction is set based on the arrangement of the hanger bar where
the laundry is hung and the arrangement direction of the hanger bar, taking into account
the reduction of the space for accommodating the laundry in the first chamber.
[0055] Fifth, the present disclosure may provide the door assembly that may be automatically
withdrawn from the cabinet by sensing the opening of the door assembly by the user.
[0056] Sixth, the present disclosure may check the laundry or the items accommodated in
the second chamber via the front surface of the door assembly.
[0057] Seventh, the present disclosure may change the illuminance and the color of the lighting
installed in the second chamber to suit the laundry or the goods.
[0058] Eighth, the present disclosure may provide the first chamber that performs the course
to care for the laundry by receiving steam or hot air based on the course selected
by the user, and the second chamber that constantly monitors the internal temperature
and humidity of the laundry stored inside based on the settings of the user.
[0059] Ninth, the present disclosure may provide the laundry treating apparatus that includes
the treatment space that intensively cares for the laundry by spraying hot air and/or
steam, and the showcase room that enables the display and the caring, in the divided
manner.
[0060] Tenth, the present disclosure may supply hot air or perform the dehumidification
to care for the laundry accommodated in the showcase room.
[0061] Eleventh, the present disclosure may adjust the temperature and the humidity based
on the laundry and the goods stored in the showcase room.
[0062] Twelfth, the present disclosure may allow the intensity or the color of the lighting
disposed in the showcase room to be changed based on the selection of the user.
[Brief Description of the Drawings]
[0063]
FIG. 1 shows an example of an existing laundry treating apparatus.
FIG. 2 shows a laundry treating apparatus described in the present disclosure.
FIG. 3 shows a first chamber and a second chamber with a door assembly open.
(a) in FIG. 4 is an example of a mechanical device disposed inside an auxiliary chamber.
(b) in FIG. 4 shows an arrangement of a compressor included in a mechanical device.
(a) in FIG. 5 is an example of an opening/closing driver and an inputter/outputter
that help open a door assembly. (b) in FIG. 6 schematically shows locations of a first
chamber, a second chamber, and an auxiliary chamber inside a cabinet.
(a) in FIG. 6 shows states of an opening/closing driver and a first hinge when a door
assembly is closed. (b) in FIG. 6 shows states of an opening/closing driver and a
first hinge when a door assembly is opened.
(a) and (b) in FIG. 7 show a problem that occurs when using a hinge coupled to one
side surface of a door assembly.
FIG. 8 shows a door of a second chamber being opened with a door assembly open.
FIG. 9 shows a hanger assembly and a shelf coupling portion disposed in a second chamber.
(a) in FIG. 10 is a state of a first hinge when a door assembly is closed. (b) in
FIG. 10 shows a state of a first hinge when a door assembly is opened. (c) in FIG.
10 is another example of a first hinge used when opening and closing a door assembly
at the other side surface.
FIG. 11 is an example of a second hinge.
(a) in FIG. 12 is a state of a second hinge when a door of a second chamber is closed.
(b) in FIG. 12 is a state of a second hinge when a door of a second chamber is opened.
(c) in FIG. 12 is an exploded view of a second hinge.
FIG. 13 schematically shows a flow direction of air inside a first chamber.
FIG. 14 shows a laundry support disassembled.
FIG. 15 shows a hanger body being extended forward of a hanger support.
(a) in FIG. 16 shows one cross-section of a laundry support. (b) in FIG. 16 shows
a hanger body being fixed by inserting a movement preventing protrusion of a hanger
bar stopper into a hanger bar fixing groove. (c) in FIG. 16 shows a movement preventing
protrusion separated from a hanger bar fixing groove.
(a) in FIG. 17 is a front view of a door assembly. (b) in FIG. 17 shows a door of
a second chamber open.
(a) in FIG. 18 is an example of a hanger assembly mounted in an accommodating space.
(b) in FIG. 18 shows a hanger mounting portion on which a hanger assembly is mounted.
(c) in FIG. 18 is an exploded view of the hanger assembly.
FIG. 19 is an example of a second chamber top surface.
(a) in FIG. 20 is an example of an air circulator. (b) in FIG. 20 is an exploded view
of an air circulator.
FIG. 21 is an example of an air circulator.
FIG. 22 is an example of a second chamber bottom surface.
FIG. 23 is a cross-section of a lower portion of an accommodating body cut along a
height direction of the accommodating body.
(a) in FIG. 24 is a disassembled air treater. (b) in FIG. 24 is an example of an air
treater.
(a) in FIG. 25 is an example of a hanger assembly and a shelf connected to a second
chamber. (b) in FIG. 25 is an example of a shelf.
FIG. 26 is a disassembled shelf.
FIG. 27 shows an example of a line lighting.
FIG. 28 is a cross-section of an accommodating body cut along a front and rear direction
of the accommodating body.
(a) in FIG. 29 is an example of an upper lighting installed in a second chamber top
surface. (b) in FIG. 29 is an example of a lower lighting of a second chamber bottom
surface.
FIG. 30 is an example of a first rear line lighting and a third rear line lighting
of a rear line lighting.
FIG. 31 is an example of a front line lighting and a rear line lighting.
(a) to (c) in FIG. 32 are an example of heat dissipating and moisture proof structures
disposed in a lighting.
(a) to (c) in FIG. 33 are another example of heat dissipating and moisture proof structures
disposed in a lighting.
(a) in FIG. 34 is an example of an inputter/outputter disposed in a front surface
of an accommodating door. (b) in FIG. 34 is an example of content displayed in a user
notifier when a user selects a treatment mode (a conditioning mode). (c) in FIG. 34
is an example of content displayed in a user notifier when a user selects a storage
mode. (d) in FIG. 34 is an example of content displayed in a user notifier when a
user selects a lighting mode.
(a) in FIG. 35 shows a state in which display of all inputter/outputters is turned
off. (b) in FIG. 35 is an example of an interface displayed on an inputter/outputter
when a user is sensed. (c) in FIG. 35 is an example of an interface displayed on an
inputter/outputter when a user selects a showcase selector. (d) in FIG. 35 is an example
of an interface displayed on an inputter/outputter when a user selects a treatment
mode.
FIG. 36 is an example of a method for controlling the laundry treating apparatus.
(a) in FIG. 37 is an example of a first treatment mode. (b) in FIG. 37 is an example
of a second treatment mode. (c) in FIG. 37 is an example of a third treatment mode.
(d) in FIG. 37 is an example of a storage mode.
[Best Mode]
[0064] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. A configuration of a device or
a method for controlling the same to be described below is only for describing an
embodiment of the present disclosure, not for limiting the scope of the present disclosure,
and reference numerals used the same herein refer to the same components.
[0065] Specific terms used herein are only for convenience of description and are not used
as a limitation of the illustrated embodiment.
[0066] For example, expressions indicating that things are in the same state, such as "same",
"equal", "homogeneous", and the like, not only indicate strictly the same state, but
also indicate a state in which a tolerance or a difference in a degree to which the
same function is obtained exists.
[0067] For example, expressions indicating a relative or absolute arrangement such as "in
a certain direction", "along a certain direction", "parallel", "orthogonal", "central",
"concentric", "coaxial", or the like not only strictly indicate such arrangement,
but also indicate a state in which a relative displacement is achieved with a tolerance,
or an angle or a distance that achieves the same function.
[0068] In order to describe the present disclosure, the description below will be achieved
on the basis of a spatial orthogonal coordinate system with an X-axis, a Y-axis, and
a Z-axis orthogonal to each other. Each axial direction (an X-axis direction, a Y-axis
direction, or a Z-axis direction) means both directions in which each axis extends.
Adding a '+' sign in front of each axial direction (a +X-axis direction, a +Y-axis
direction, or a +Z-axis direction) means a positive direction, which is one of the
two directions in which each axis extends. Adding a '-' sign in front of each axial
direction (a -X-axis direction, a -Y-axis direction, or a - Z-axis direction) means
a negative direction, which is the other of the two directions in which each axis
extends.
[0069] Expressions referring to directions such as "front (+Y)/rear (-Y)/left (+X)/right
(-X)/up (+Z)/down (-Z)" to be mentioned below are defined based on a XYZ coordinate
axis. However, this is to describe the present disclosure such that the present disclosure
may be clearly understood. In one example, each direction may be defined differently
depending on the standard.
[0070] The use of terms such as 'first, second, third' in front of the components to be
mentioned below is only to avoid confusion of the components referred to, and is independent
of the order, importance, or master-slave relationship between the components. For
example, an invention including only the second component without the first component
may also be implemented.
[0071] As used herein, singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context
clearly dictates otherwise.
[0072] As used herein, laundry includes not only tops such as a dress shirt and a blouse,
but also bottoms such as jeans. In addition, it is a concept that includes all laundry
that requires daily care, such as a suit, a jumper, leather clothes, and the like.
Therefore, it may include uniforms such as a school uniform or a company uniform.
In addition, as used herein, a term 'goods' has been used as a term including items
such as a hat, a scarf, a handkerchief, a bag, or a doll, excluding typical laundry,
and also including things such as a watch and an accessory. However, herein, even
when only one of the terms 'laundry' and 'goods' is used, such term may be interpreted
to include both the laundry and the goods in the context of the present document.
In other words, the two are not used to exclude each other, but to include each other.
[0073] FIG. 1 shows an example of an existing laundry treating apparatus 1. The laundry
treating apparatus 1 includes a cabinet 15 including an inlet 12 defined in one surface
thereof, a first chamber 10 located inside the cabinet 15 to accommodate the laundry
therein through the inlet 12, an auxiliary chamber 20 located under the first chamber
10 and defining therein a space separated from the first chamber 10, a steam unit
(not shown) disposed inside the auxiliary chamber 20 to generate steam and supply
the steam to the first chamber 10, and a door 40 pivotably coupled to the cabinet
15 to open and close the inlet 12. Considering a usage method of general users, the
inlet 12 will preferably be defined in a front surface of the cabinet 15.
[0074] In addition, the laundry treating apparatus 1 may further include a blowing unit
(not shown) that is located inside the auxiliary chamber 20 and sucks air from the
first chamber 10, and a heat pump unit (not shown) that dehumidifies and heats the
sucked air and then discharges the air to the first chamber 10.
[0075] The cabinet 15 may be made of a metal material, but may also be made of a plastic
material as long as it may maintain strength. Additionally, the first chamber 10 may
be formed by an inner casing manufactured by plastic injection molding. The first
chamber 10 may be coupled to the cabinet 15 by a frame (not shown).
[0076] The laundry that requires the care may be placed in the first chamber 10, and the
laundry may be cared for in a refreshing way via the blowing unit (not shown), the
heat pump unit (not shown), and the steam unit (not shown) located inside the auxiliary
chamber 20. That is, a function of sterilizing and deodorizing the laundry and removing
wrinkles formed by use may be performed using steam and/or heated air via the blowing
unit (not shown), the heat pump unit (not shown), and the steam unit (not shown) located
inside the auxiliary chamber 20.
[0077] The first chamber 10 may include a laundry support 90 for hanging the laundry at
an inner upper portion of the first chamber 10. The laundry support 90 may accommodate
thereon a hanger where the laundry is hung, and may be connected to a driver (not
shown) that may reciprocate the laundry support part 90 in a left and right direction.
The movement of the laundry support 90 may shake the laundry, ultimately removing
foreign substances, including fine dust, attached to the laundry. Additionally, while
shaking the laundry mounted on the laundry support 90, the wrinkles in the laundry
may be removed to some extent by being exposed to steam or moisture supplied from
the auxiliary chamber 20.
[0078] That is, the laundry support 90 may allow the laundry to be hung in an unfolded state
by a self-weight thereof inside the first chamber 10, so that the laundry may be evenly
exposed to dehumidified and heated air and/or steam supplied from the auxiliary chamber
20.
[0079] An air supply port 21 and a steam supply port 22 for supplying steam generated by
the steam unit (not shown) and air dehumidified and heated by the heat pump unit (not
shown) inside the auxiliary chamber 20 to the first chamber 10, and an air intake
port 23 for sucking air from the first chamber 10 by the blowing unit (not shown)
may be located on a first chamber bottom surface 13.
[0080] As shown in FIG. 1, the air supply port 21 and the steam supply port 22 may be disposed
on the first chamber bottom surface 11 or on a first chamber rear surface (not shown).
In addition, an area where the first chamber bottom surface 11 and the first chamber
rear surface (not shown) meet each other may be formed in a smoothly inclined shape,
and the air supply port 21 and the steam supply port 22 may be disposed on the inclined
surface.
[0081] The air intake port 23 may be located close to the inlet 12 on the first chamber
bottom surface 11. Accordingly, the air supply port 21 and the air intake port 23
are arranged along a front and rear direction of the cabinet 15. On the other hand,
the laundry support 90 extends along a width direction of the cabinet 15. This is
to ensure that air discharged from the air supply port 21 is uniformly supplied to
the laundry hanging on the laundry support 90.
[0082] Air inside the first chamber 10 will circulate by being discharged through the air
supply port 21 and sucked via the air intake port 23. A water supply tank 31 and a
drain tank 33 may be constructed to be independently detachable from a tank module
frame (not shown). Otherwise, the water supply tank 31 and the drain tank 33 may be
coupled into one and detachable at the same time.
[0083] As described above, the existing laundry treating apparatus 1 is an apparatus only
for the laundry care and utility thereof as an apparatus for storage or display, including
the laundry care, is not high. In addition, the existing laundry treating apparatus
does not have a separate space for a case in which an amount of laundry or goods is
small, so that input electrical energy may not be utilized efficiently.
[0084] In a case of expensive laundry or items, care via temperature and humidity adjustment,
as well as display are required. Herein, reflecting such need, it is disclosed that
the laundry treating apparatus has a space at a front side that is separate from the
first chamber 10 and is able to independently adjust the temperature and the humidity.
[0085] FIG. 2 shows a laundry treating apparatus 100 described in the present disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 2, the laundry treating apparatus 100 includes a cabinet 110 including
a first inlet 131 defined in a front surface thereof, a first chamber 130 located
inside the cabinet 110 to accommodate the laundry or the goods therein through the
first inlet 131, an auxiliary chamber 150 located inside the cabinet 110 at a lower
side of the cabinet 110 and defining therein a space separated from the first chamber
130, a door assembly 500 that opens and closes the first inlet 131, and a second chamber
550 that is located inside the door assembly 500, defines therein a space separated
from the first chamber 110 and the auxiliary chamber 150, and accommodates the laundry
or the goods therein.
[0086] The cabinet 110 may include a cabinet top surface 112 that forms a top surface of
the cabinet 110, a cabinet rear surface 115 that forms a rear surface of the cabinet
110, and a cabinet left side surface 113 and a cabinet right side surface (not shown)
that form both side surfaces of the cabinet. The cabinet left side surface 113 and
the cabinet right side surface (not shown) will be disposed to face each other. The
cabinet top surface 112, the cabinet left side surface 113, and the cabinet right
side surface 114 may be integrally formed.
[0087] The cabinet 110 includes the first inlet 131 in the front surface thereof. Therefore,
the first chamber 130 is accessible via the first inlet 131. The cabinet 110 may further
include the first chamber 130 and the auxiliary chamber 150 located under the first
chamber 130 inside the cabinet 110.
[0088] The first chamber 130 may include a first area 1301 (see (b) in FIG. 5) located on
the auxiliary chamber 150, and a second area 1302 (see (b) in FIG. 5) located in front
of the auxiliary chamber 150 and where at least a portion of the second chamber 550
is accommodated when the door assembly 500 closes the first inlet 131.
[0089] The first chamber 130 may be a space where the laundry is accommodated and cared
for. The first chamber 130 may also be called a treatment room. The auxiliary chamber
150 may be a space where an electrical device or a mechanical device for supplying
hot air or steam to the first chamber 130 is installed. The auxiliary chamber 150
may also be called a machinery room. The second chamber 550, as a space separate from
the first chamber 130 and the auxiliary chamber 150, may also be called an auxiliary
care room, a showcase room, or a display room.
[0090] When the door assembly 500 closes the first inlet 131, at least a portion of the
second chamber 550 is located inside the first chamber 130, so that the second chamber
550 may be located in front of the auxiliary chamber 150.
[0091] The door assembly 500 may serve as a door that opens and closes the first inlet 131.
A user will need to open and close the door assembly 500 to access the first chamber
130.
[0092] Additionally, the door assembly 500 may include the second chamber 550 therein for
caring for, displaying, and storing the laundry or the goods. That is, the door assembly
500 may simultaneously perform the role of the door that opens and closes the first
inlet 131, as well as the role of the space for caring for, storing, and displaying
the laundry or the goods accommodated therein.
[0093] The door assembly 500 may include a second inlet 512 (see FIG. 3) in a front surface
thereof, an accommodating body 510 (see FIG. 3) forming the second chamber 550 therein,
and a door 530 of the second chamber that opens and closes the second inlet 512. After
opening the door 530 of the second chamber, the user may put the laundry or the goods
in the second chamber 550 through the second inlet 512.
[0094] Considering that, when the door assembly 500 closes the first inlet 131, at least
a portion of the second chamber 550 is located in the second area 1302, which is located
closer to the first inlet 131 than a rear surface of the first chamber 130 inside
the first chamber 130, at least a portion of the receiving body 510 will be located
in the second area 1302 when the door assembly 500 closes the first inlet 131.
[0095] At least a portion of the second chamber 550 may be accommodated in a space between
the first inlet 131 and the auxiliary chamber 150 when the door assembly 500 closes
the first inlet 131.
[0096] Accordingly, when the door assembly 500 closes the first inlet 131, the second chamber
550 may be located in front of the auxiliary chamber 150 inside the first chamber
130. Accordingly, the auxiliary chamber 150 may be positioned at a predetermined distance
rearward from the first inlet 131 to accommodate at least a portion of the door assembly
500 inside the first chamber 130.
[0097] As shown in FIG. 2, a bottom surface of the first chamber 130 may be formed to be
stepped because of the auxiliary chamber 150 forming the bottom surface.
[0098] In one example, the door assembly 500 may mount a laundry hanger 830 (see FIG. 9)
for accommodating the laundry in the second chamber 550. Alternatively, a shelf 580
that is detachably disposed in the second chamber 550 to support the laundry or the
goods accommodated in the second chamber 550 may be further included.
[0099] As shown in FIG. 2, the door 530 of the second chamber may be made of a material
that allows the interior of the second chamber 550 to be viewed. In other words, at
least a portion of the door 530 of the second chamber may be made of a material that
allows visible light to pass through.
[0100] When the door 530 of the second chamber is opened, the door assembly 500 may accommodate
the laundry or the items in the second chamber 550 through the second inlet 512.
[0101] Accordingly, a front surface of the door 530 of the second chamber may be made of
a transparent material. It may be made of a completely transparent material, but on
the other hand, may also be made of a translucent material.
[0102] To this end, the door 530 of the second chamber may include an opening (not shown)
in which at least a portion of a front surface is opened, and may include a door frame
533 of the second chamber forming a frame of the door 530 of the second chamber and
a door window 531 of the second chamber surrounded by the door frame 533 of the second
chamber and coupled to the door frame 533 of the second chamber.
[0103] At least a portion of the door window 531 of the second chamber may be made of the
transparent material or may be made of the translucent material. Additionally, the
door window 531 of the second chamber may be transparent but may have a color.
[0104] The door frame 533 of the second chamber may be disposed to surround an outer surface
of the door window 531 of the second chamber. In contrast, the door frame 533 of the
second chamber may be coupled to a rear surface of the door window 531 of the second
chamber, so that only the door window 531 of the second chamber may be exposed in
a forward direction of the door 530 of the second chamber.
[0105] In one example, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may further include an opening/closing
driver 170 that pushes the door assembly 500 to automatically open the door assembly
500. The opening/closing driver 170 may be disposed between the cabinet top surface
112 and a first chamber top surface 132 forming a top surface of the first chamber
130.
[0106] Referring to FIG. 2, the opening/closing driver 170 may be coupled to a lower side
of the cabinet top surface 112. Alternatively, the opening/closing driver 170 may
be disposed at the lower side of the first chamber top surface 132.
[0107] One opening/closing driver 170 may be sufficient, but there may be a plurality of
opening/closing drivers. The opening/closing driver 170 may be disposed not only between
the cabinet top surface 112 and the first chamber top surface 132, but also on a first
chamber bottom surface 135 forming a bottom surface of the first chamber. Alternatively,
the opening/closing driver 170 may be located between the first chamber bottom surface
135 and a bottom surface of the cabinet 110.
[0108] The reason why there are the plurality of opening/closing drivers 170 is to prevent
deformation of the door assembly 500 or a hinge structure that couples the door assembly
500 to the cabinet from occurring as the door assembly 500 is pushed from above or
below and thus a force is concentrated on one side or unnecessary torque is generated.
[0109] Referring to FIG. 3, the door assembly 500 may further include an accommodating housing
559 located inside the accommodating body 510 to form the second chamber 550.
[0110] When the accommodating body 510 corresponds to an outer body, the accommodating housing
559 may correspond to an inner body. Ultimately, the accommodating housing 559 may
form an inner surface of the second chamber 550.
[0111] A predetermined empty space may be defined between the accommodating body 510 and
the accommodating housing 559, and a mechanical device for conditioning air in the
second chamber 550 or various wires may be installed in the empty space.
[0112] Accordingly, the door assembly 500 may include the second inlet 512 at the front
surface thereof and the accommodating housing 559 forming the second chamber 550 inside
the accommodating body 510.
[0113] The accommodating housing 559 may include a second chamber top surface 551 (see FIG.
19) forming an upper portion of the second chamber 550, a second chamber bottom surface
554 forming a bottom surface of the second chamber 550, a second chamber rear surface
555 forming a rear surface of the second chamber and connecting a rear edge of the
second chamber top surface 551 with a rear edge of the second chamber bottom surface
554, and a second chamber left side surface 552 and a second chamber right side surface
553 connecting the second chamber top surface 551, the second chamber bottom surface
554, and the second chamber rear surface 555 with each other.
[0114] In one example, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may sterilize, deodorize, remove
the wrinkles from, and dry the laundry by spraying hot air or steam to the laundry
accommodated in the first chamber 130. In particular, insulation of the laundry treating
apparatus 100 may be important for the drying and the steam spraying.
[0115] In particular, this is because an overall insulation performance may be deteriorated
when there is no insulating material because at least the portion of the door 530
of the second chamber is made of the material that allows visible light to pass therethrough.
Additionally, there may be a risk of burns when the user unintentionally touches the
door with hand during the steam spraying or the drying. To prevent this, the second
chamber 550 should be formed separately from the first chamber 130 and the auxiliary
chamber 150. In particular, in the door assembly 500, an insulating layer using the
insulating material or air may be formed in the empty space between the accommodating
body 510 and the accommodating housing 559.
[0116] In one example, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may further include a laundry
driver 640 located between the first chamber top surface 132 and the cabinet top surface
112 to reciprocate a hanger body 610 (see FIG. 13), which will be described later.
This is to protect the laundry driver 640 from hot air, steam, or moisture supplied
to the first chamber 130 and to prevent a complex driving device or the like such
as the laundry driver 640 from being exposed to the user.
[0117] In one example, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may further include a first hinge
120 that pivots such that, when the door assembly 500 is opened, the door assembly
500 is withdrawn forward of the cabinet 110 and then moves along a width direction
of the cabinet 110, and a second hinge 520 (see FIG. 8) that pivots to open the second
inlet 512 via the pivoting of the door 530 of the second chamber when the door 530
of the second chamber is opened.
[0118] When the door assembly 500 closes the first inlet 131, the door assembly 500 will
move in a reverse order of opening the door assembly 500.
[0119] The first hinge 120 may move the door assembly 500 while maintaining an angle between
the door assembly 500 and the first inlet 131. That is, when the door assembly 500
moves, the first hinge 120 will allow the second inlet 512 to always face forward.
[0120] In other words, when the door assembly 500 is moved, an angle formed by the door
assembly 500 with a front surface of the cabinet will be maintained. To this end,
the first hinge 120 may separate the door assembly 500 from the first chamber 130
and then move the same along the width direction of the cabinet 110 to open the first
inlet 131.
[0121] Considering an usage pattern of the users, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may
not be installed in an isolated manner, but may be installed and used indoors as of
a built-in type. Accordingly, a size of the laundry treating apparatus 100 may be
determined by considering a standard size of a closet or furniture installed adjacent
thereto.
[0122] Accordingly, while the external size of the laundry treating apparatus 100 remains
the same, a size of the door assembly 500 including the second chamber 550 increases,
so that a volume of the first chamber 130 may decrease. Additionally, to prevent interference
with the adjacent furniture when opening and closing the door assembly 500, it is
preferable that a portion of the accommodating body 510 is inserted into and accommodated
inside the first chamber 130.
[0123] To this end, to prevent the interference between the first chamber 130 and the furniture
adjacent to the laundry treating apparatus 100, the first hinge 120 may open and close
the door assembly 500 as described above.
[0124] On the other hand, the second hinge 520, which will be described later, will open
the second inlet 512 by moving the door 530 of the second chamber such that an angle
between the door 530 of the second chamber and the front surface of the accommodating
body 510 increases.
[0125] That is, similar to a hinge of a general door, the angle between the door 530 of
the second chamber and the second inlet 512 may change while opening and closing the
door 530 of the second chamber.
[0126] FIG. 3 shows the interior of the first chamber 130 with the door assembly 500 open.
Additionally, the interior of the second chamber 550 with the door 530 of the second
chamber made of the transparent or translucent material closed is shown.
[0127] Referring to FIG. 3, the first chamber 130 may be formed by the first chamber top
surface 132 (see FIG. 2) forming the top surface of the first chamber 130, the first
chamber bottom surface 135 forming the bottom surface of the first chamber 130, and
a first chamber left side surface 133, a first chamber right side surface 134, and
a first chamber rear surface 136 connecting the first chamber top surface 132 with
the first chamber bottom surface 135 to form both side surfaces and a rear surface,
respectively.
[0128] The first chamber 130 may be made of a plastic or metal material. In the case of
plastic material, the first chamber 130 may be formed via injection molding.
[0129] The auxiliary chamber 150 may be disposed to be separated from the first chamber
130 at an inner lower portion of the cabinet 110. The electrical or mechanical devices
necessary for spraying hot air and/or steam into the first chamber 130 may be disposed
in the auxiliary chamber 150. Considering that operation of the mechanical device
causes vibration or noise and considering weights of the various mechanical devices,
it is preferable that the auxiliary chamber 150 is located under the first chamber
130.
[0130] In a case of the typical laundry treating apparatus 1, the first chamber bottom surface
135 may be formed extend to the first inlet 131 and the auxiliary chamber 150 may
be located beneath an entirety of the first chamber bottom surface 135. However, in
the present disclosure, considering that the door assembly 500 is inserted into the
first chamber 130, it may be preferable for the auxiliary chamber 150 to be formed
in a lower portion of the first chamber 130.
[0131] Accordingly, an auxiliary chamber front surface 151, which is a front surface of
the auxiliary chamber 150 facing the door assembly 500, will be located at the rear
of the first inlet 131. This may mean that a step height is formed on the first chamber
bottom surface 135 in a side view of the first chamber 130.
[0132] On the other hand, in another example, the second chamber 550 may be located upward
of the auxiliary chamber 150 between the first inlet 131 and the auxiliary chamber
150. However, in this case, when the door assembly 500 is closed, the second chamber
550 will protrude into the first chamber 130.
[0133] In addition, in the case of another example, because the second chamber 550 is located
upward of the auxiliary chamber 150, there is no interference between the auxiliary
chamber 150 and the second chamber 550, so that the first chamber bottom surface 135
may not have the step height.
[0134] That is, when the door assembly 500 is inserted into the first chamber 130, a lower
portion of the accommodating body 510 will face the auxiliary chamber front surface
151 and an upper portion of the accommodating body 510 will face the first chamber
rear surface 136. That is, when the door assembly 500 closes the first inlet 131,
the second chamber 550 will be located in front of the auxiliary chamber 150 inside
the first chamber 130.
[0135] Therefore, a length of a rear surface of the accommodating body 510 inserted into
the first chamber 130 is greater than a vertical length from the first chamber top
surface 132 to the first chamber bottom surface 135 along a height direction of the
cabinet 110 and is smaller than a vertical length from the first chamber top surface
132 to the first chamber bottom surface 135.
[0136] Accordingly, the first chamber bottom surface 135 may be formed to be stepped. Referring
to (a) in FIG. 5, the first chamber bottom surface 135 may include a first bottom
surface 1351 and a second bottom surface 1352 disposed at different vertical levels.
[0137] Referring to FIG. 3 and (a) in FIG. 4, the first chamber bottom surface 135 may include
an air intake port 137 and an air discharge port 138 in communication with an air
supply 410 that circulates or heats air of the first chamber 130. In addition, the
first chamber bottom surface 135 may further include a steam discharge port 139 that
is in communication with a steam supply 450 that generates steam and supplies the
steam to the first chamber 130.
[0138] The auxiliary chamber 150 may be located beneath the first bottom surface 1351. Accordingly,
the air intake port 137, the air discharge port 138, and the steam discharge port
139 may be located on the first bottom surface 1352 rather than on the second bottom
surface 1352.
[0139] Additionally, a length from the first chamber top surface 132 to the first bottom
surface 1351 may be smaller than a length from the first chamber top surface 132 to
the second bottom surface 1352.
[0140] Referring to FIG. 3, the air intake port 137 and the air discharge port 138 may be
disposed to be spaced apart from each other along the width direction or a left and
right direction of the cabinet 110.
[0141] One of the air intake port 137 and the air discharge port 138 may be located close
to one side surface of the two side surfaces 113 and 114 of the cabinet 110, and the
other of the air intake port 137 and the air discharge port 138 may be located close
to the other side surface of the two side surfaces 113 and 114 of the cabinet 110.
[0142] Additionally, the steam discharge port 139 may be located closer to the air discharge
port 138 than the air intake port 137.
[0143] A length in the front and rear direction of the second bottom surface 1352 may be
set considering a depth at which the portion of the door assembly 500 is inserted
into the first inlet 131.
[0144] For example, the depth at which the door assembly 500 is inserted into the first
inlet 131 may be equal to or greater than 1/6 and equal to or smaller than 1/2 of
a length in the front and rear direction of the cabinet 110. This is because the depth
at which the door assembly 500 is inserted into the first inlet 131 should be 1/6
or greater considering a size of the goods accommodated in the second chamber 550,
and it is preferable that the depth at which the door assembly 500 is inserted into
the first inlet 131 is equal to or smaller than 1/2 for preventing overturning of
the cabinet 110 considering a weight of the door assembly 500.
[0145] A water supply tank 481 for supplying water for the steam generation and a drain
tank 485 for storing condensate may be inserted into the auxiliary chamber 150 through
the auxiliary chamber front surface 151. That is, the auxiliary chamber front surface
151 may include a water supply tank insertion hole (not shown) and a drain tank insertion
hole (not shown) into which the water supply tank 481 and the drain tank 485 are inserted,
respectively, and the water supply tank 481 and the drain tank 485 may be inserted
into or separated from the auxiliary chamber 150 via the water supply tank insertion
hole and the drain tank insertion hole.
[0146] Referring to FIG. 3, the water supply tank 481 and the drain tank 485 may be positioned
spaced apart from each other. That is, a space where the water supply tank 481 is
installed and a space where the drain tank 485 is installed may be separated from
each other. In a case of the typical laundry treating apparatus, they are located
adjacent to each other in one tank installation space, so that the user may have difficulty
in removing only one of the water supply tank 481 and the drain tank 485. To prevent
this, in the laundry treating apparatus 100, the water supply tank 481 and the drain
tank 485 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other.
[0147] Additionally, the water supply tank 481 and the drain tank 485 may have lengths along
the front and rear direction of the cabinet 110 that are greater than lengths along
the height direction of the cabinet 110. This is to maximally utilize the compact
space of the auxiliary chamber 150.
[0148] (a) in FIG. 4 shows the steam supply 450, the air supply 410, the water supply tank
481, and the drain tank 485 disposed inside the auxiliary chamber 150. The laundry
treating apparatus 100 may further include the air supply 410 located inside the auxiliary
chamber 150 to circulate or heat air in the first chamber 130, and the steam supply
450 that generates steam and supplies the steam to the first chamber 130.
[0149] The air supply 410 may include an air supply duct 411 that sucks air from the first
chamber 130, a discharge duct 419 that discharges air to the first chamber 130, and
a connecting duct 413 that connects the air supply duct 411 with the discharge duct
419 to circulate air. The air supply 410 may further include a blowing unit 412 that
generates a suction force to suck air from the first chamber 130. The blowing unit
412 may be located between the connection duct 413 and the discharge duct 419 or between
the air supply duct 411 and the connection duct 413.
[0150] The air supply duct 411 will be in communication with the air intake port 137, and
the discharge duct 419 will be in communication with the air discharge port 138.
[0151] Considering that the air intake port 137 and the air discharge port 138 are arranged
in the left and right direction of the cabinet 110, the air supply duct 411, the connecting
duct 413, and the discharge duct may also be arranged along the width direction. Accordingly,
air circulating in the first chamber 130 may form an air flow that circulates along
the left and right direction of the cabinet 110 until it is discharged from the air
discharge port 138 and introduced into the air intake port 137.
[0152] That is, air discharged from the air discharge port 138, which is located close to
one side surface of both side surfaces of the cabinet 110, will ascend along said
one side surface and then descend along the other side surface of both side surfaces
of the cabinet 110 to be introduced into the air intake port 137.
[0153] A heat exchanger (not shown) for heat exchange with circulating air may be further
included inside the connecting duct 413. The heat exchanger may be formed as a heater,
but may be formed as a heat pump in terms of energy efficiency. The heat pump may
include an evaporator and a condenser for heat exchange with a refrigerant.
[0154] Accordingly, the heat exchanger may cool and dehumidify air sucked via the air supply
duct 411 via the heat exchange with the refrigerant circulating through the heat exchanger,
and then heat the air again to create high-temperature dry air. The high-temperature
dry air may be again supplied into the first chamber 130 to dry the laundry hung in
the first chamber 130.
[0155] To place the electric devices or the mechanical devices in the space of the auxiliary
chamber 150 as efficiently as possible, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may further
include a base 470 that forms a bottom surface of the auxiliary chamber 150, and a
supporter 489 that defines a predetermined installation area on the base 470.
[0156] The steam supply 450 may be located in the installation area, and the connecting
duct 413 including the heat exchanger may be located above the supporter 489. The
space of the auxiliary chamber 150 may be used more efficiently by being divided in
the height direction of the cabinet 110.
[0157] A controller 490 may also be located inside the auxiliary chamber 150. The controller
490 may control the steam supply 450, the air supply 410, the laundry support to be
described later, the opening/closing driver, various sensors and an inputter/outputter,
a second chamber lighting 590, and a shelf lighting 587.
[0158] Referring to (a) in FIG. 4, it is shown that the controller 490 is located between
the steam supply 450 and the base 470, but this is only an example and the controller
490 may be located elsewhere. For example, the controller 490 may be located between
the cabinet top surface 112 and the first chamber top surface 132. Alternatively,
the controller 490 may be disposed inside the door assembly 500. Alternatively, the
controller 490 may be located close to the cabinet rear surface 115 at the rear of
the auxiliary chamber 150.
[0159] The water supply tank 481 and the drain tank 485 may be located between the connecting
duct 413 and the first chamber bottom surface 135. This is because an extra space
is defined above the connecting duct 413 because of a vertical dimension of the discharge
duct 419 and the water supply tank 481 and the drain tank 485 are able to be installed
using such space.
[0160] Accordingly, inside the auxiliary chamber, the base 470, the steam supply 450, the
connecting duct 413, the water supply tank 481, and the drain tank 485 may be arranged
sequentially from the bottom along the height direction.
[0161] (b) in FIG. 4 shows a lay-out of a compressor 417 included in the mechanical device.
This is to compress the refrigerant and circulate the same via the heat exchanger.
The refrigerant will exchange heat with air circulating through the air supply 410.
Air circulating in the first chamber 130 via the heat exchanger will be supplied to
the first chamber 130 in the high-temperature and dry state.
[0162] The compressor 417 may be located on one side of the supporter 489. Considering a
size and vibration of the compressor 417, the compressor 417 may be located closer
to the cabinet rear surface 115 than to the auxiliary chamber front surface 151 or
the first inlet 131.
[0163] Referring to (b) in FIG. 4, it is shown that the supporter 489 is composed of a first
supporter 4891 and a second supporter 4892 to support the steam supply 450 and the
air supply 410. Each of the first supporter 4891 and the second supporter 4892 may
include two legs and a mounting portion connecting the two legs to each other.
[0164] In contrast, the supporter 489 is formed by a rectangular mounting portion extending
in the width direction of the cabinet 110, and front and rear mounting surfaces that
extend from front and rear side surfaces among side surfaces of the mounting portion
and are coupled to the base 470, respectively. In other words, the supporter 489 may
be formed as one member rather than as two separate members like the first supporter
4891 and the second supporter 4892. That is, one member may form a rectangular parallelepiped
shape together with the base 470, and the steam supply 450 may be located inside the
rectangular parallelepiped shape.
[0165] (a) in FIG. 5 shows an example in which the door assembly 500 is opened and the first
chamber 130 is exposed to the outside. Additionally, (a) in FIG. 5 shows an example
of an inputter/outputter 700 disposed on the front surface of the door assembly 500
or on the front surface of the door 530 of the second chamber. The inputter/outputter
700 may receive control information from the user to operate the laundry treating
apparatus 100. Additionally, the inputter/outputter 700 may inform the user of a performance
state (or information of a current treatment state) of the laundry treating apparatus
100 based on the control information of the user. The present disclosure shows an
example in which the inputter/outputter 700 is visually displayed on the front surface
of the door assembly 500, but unlike this, the inputter/outputter 700 may further
include a speaker, a haptic device, and the like that may inform the user of the information
also via hearing or touch.
[0166] The user may cause the laundry treating apparatus 100 to perform a desired operation
via the inputter/outputter 700 by touching the inputter/outputter 700 with hand. Alternatively,
the user may cause the laundry treating apparatus 100 to perform the desired operation
by pressing or touching a button disposed on the inputter/outputter 700. The inputter/outputter
700 may have an inputter that receives the command of the user and an outputter that
outputs the state of the laundry treating apparatus 100 separated from each other.
[0167] The controller 490 may sense and process an user input via the inputter/outputter
700, and display the state of the laundry treating apparatus 100 or results via the
inputter/outputter 700.
[0168] In one example, the door assembly 500 may be relatively heavy, unlike a regular door,
because of the second chamber 550 included inside. Therefore, it may be difficult
for the user to open and close the door assembly 500 manually. Additionally, considering
design, the door assembly 500 may not have a separate handle for manually opening
and closing the door assembly 500.
[0169] To this end, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may further include the opening/closing
driver 170 that pushes the door assembly 500 to open the same when the user wishes
to open the door assembly 500. The controller 490 may control the opening/closing
driver 170 to open the door assembly 500.
[0170] The inputter/outputter 700 may include a door opening inputter (an accommodating
space selector or a second chamber selector) 711 that senses a door opening command
of the user. For example, when the user selects a door opening menu in the inputter/outputter
700, the controller 490 may sense the same and operate the opening/closing driver
170 to open the door assembly 500.
[0171] Alternatively, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may include a proximity sensor
791 disposed in the door assembly 500. Accordingly, when the user is located within
a predetermined sensing area of the proximity sensor 791, the controller 490 may sense
user's approach and may operate the opening/closing driver 170 to open the door assembly
500.
[0172] The proximity sensor 791 may be located in the front surface of the door assembly
500, that is, in the door 530 of the second chamber. For example, the proximity sensor
791 may be located adjacent to the inputter/outputter 700.
[0173] Alternatively, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may open the door assembly 500
by operating the opening/closing driver 170 when the user inputs the door opening
command via an app or a remote controller.
[0174] (a) in FIG. 5 shows the opening/closing driver 170 with an upper opening/closing
driver 175 located at an upper portion and a lower opening/closing driver 177 located
at a lower portion inside the cabinet 110. Alternatively, one opening/closing driver
170 among the upper opening/closing driver 175 and the lower opening/closing driver
177 may be implemented to open the door assembly 500.
[0175] (b) in FIG. 5 shows the internal space of the first chamber 130 divided into the
first area 1301 and the second area 1302 when viewed from one side surface of the
cabinet 110. (b) in FIG. 5 simply schematically shows a relative locational relationship
of the first chamber 130, the second chamber 550, and the auxiliary chamber 150.
[0176] That is, considering that, when the door assembly 500 closes the first inlet 131,
at least the portion of the second chamber 550 is located in the second area 1302,
which is located closer to the first inlet 131 than to the rear surface of the first
chamber 130 inside the first chamber 130, at least the portion of the accommodating
body 510 will be located in the second area 1302 when the door assembly 500 closes
the first inlet 131.
[0177] Additionally, to hang the laundry inside the first chamber 130, the user may access
the first area 1301 through the first inlet 131 and the second area 1302. That is,
a laundry support 600 to be described later will be located in the first area 1301
when the door assembly 500 is closed.
[0178] Accordingly, at least the portion of the second chamber 550 will be accommodated
in the space between the first inlet 131 and the auxiliary chamber 150 when the door
assembly 500 closes the first inlet 131.
[0179] In this regard, the rear surface of the door assembly 500, that is, at least a portion
of an accommodating body rear surface 5105 (see FIG. 7), specifically, a lower portion
of the accommodating body rear surface 5105, may face the auxiliary chamber front
surface 151. Another portion of the accommodating body rear surface 510, specifically
an upper portion of the accommodating body rear surface 5105, will face the first
chamber rear surface 136.
[0180] In one example, an embodiment in which the second chamber 550 is located upward of
the auxiliary chamber 150 may also be considered. However, a space located under the
second chamber 550 may have a problem of defining a stagnant area in which air does
not circulate well.
[0181] In addition, the first chamber 130 and the second chamber 550 may be in communication
with each other, but in this case, when treating the laundry inside the first chamber
130, the laundry located inside the second chamber 550 should also be treated, so
that the laundry accommodated in the second chamber 550 is not able to be separately
cared for. Additionally, when the first chamber 130 and the second chamber 550 are
simply in communication with each other, the condensate generated because of a temperature
difference between the first chamber 130 and the second chamber 550 is not able to
be treated. For example, when steam is sprayed into the first chamber 130, the steam
may enter the second chamber 550 and generate the condensate in the second chamber
550, but because the first chamber 150 is operating, the condensate generated in the
second chamber 550 may be treated.
[0182] In one example, a bottom surface of the first area 1301 corresponds to the first
bottom surface 1351 of the stepped first chamber bottom surfaces 135, and a bottom
surface of the second area 1302 corresponds to a second chamber bottom surface 1352.
[0183] Considering the weight of the door assembly 500 and the sizes of the various electrical
devices or mechanical devices accommodated inside the auxiliary chamber 150, a length
FR2 in the front and rear direction of the second area 1302 may be equal to or smaller
than a length FR1 in the front and rear direction of the first area 1301 along the
front and rear direction of the cabinet 110. This is because there is the risk of
overturning of the laundry treating apparatus 100 because of the weight of the door
assembly 500 when the length FR2 in the front and rear direction of the second area
1302 exceeds the length FR1 in the front and rear direction of the first area 1301.
[0184] In addition, no empty space is created between the accommodating body 510 and the
auxiliary chamber 150 because of the second chamber 550, so that not only may the
spaces of the first chamber 130 and the second chamber 550 be used more efficiently,
but also may the stagnant area that may cause flow stagnation during the air circulation
be eliminated.
[0185] In one example, a vertical dimension of the second chamber 550 may be greater than
a vertical dimension of the first chamber 130. This is because the vertical level
of the first bottom surface 1351 is higher than the vertical level of the second bottom
surface 1352 because of a vertical dimension of the auxiliary chamber 150. Accordingly,
the second chamber 550 may accommodate therein laundry relatively longer than the
laundry accommodated in the first chamber 130.
[0186] Specifically, the vertical dimension of the second chamber 550 may be greater than
that of the first area 1301.
[0187] Referring to (b) in FIG. 5, the vertical dimension of the first area 1301 (or a length
from the first chamber top surface 132 to the first bottom surface 1351) may be smaller
than the vertical dimension of the second area 1302 (or a length from the first chamber
top surface 132 to the first bottom surface 1351). This is because the vertical dimension
of the auxiliary chamber 550 located under the first area 1301 should be considered.
[0188] That is, the first chamber bottom surface 135 will be formed in the stepped shape
by including the first bottom surface 1351 and the second bottom surface 1352, which
has the relatively lower vertical level than the first bottom surface 1351 because
of the auxiliary chamber 150 located under the first chamber bottom surface 135.
[0189] The second chamber 550 formed inside the door assembly 500 will be accommodated in
the second area 1302. Accordingly, the length of the second chamber 550 may be greater
than the length of the first area 1301. That is, the second chamber 550 may accommodate
therein the laundry relatively longer than the laundry accommodated in the first chamber
130. Accordingly, the user will be able to accommodate laundry of various lengths
in the laundry treating apparatus 100 and care for the laundry.
[0190] Additionally, the auxiliary chamber 150 may serve as a stopper to prevent the door
assembly 500 from being pushed back any further. The door assembly 500 will be located
in the second area 1302 located on the second bottom surface 1352 inside the first
chamber 130. That is, the lower portion of the accommodating body 510, which forms
at least a portion of an outer appearance of the door assembly 500, will face the
auxiliary chamber front surface 151. Ultimately, even when an unintended external
force is applied to the door assembly 500 and the door assembly 500 is pushed into
the first chamber 130, the auxiliary chamber 150 may prevent the door assembly 500
from moving into the first chamber 130 by a certain depth or more.
[0191] Considering that the laundry is accommodated in the first area 1301, the vertical
dimension of the first area 1301 will be greater than the vertical dimension of the
auxiliary chamber 550.
[0192] Additionally, to prevent the overturning caused by the weight of the door assembly
500, a length in the front and rear direction of the first area 1301 will be equal
to or greater than a length in the front and rear direction of the second area 1302.
[0193] Considering that at least the portion of the second chamber 550 is inserted into
the second area 1302, an area multiplied by a width and a height of the second area
1302 will be greater than an area of the second chamber rear surface 555. That is,
an open area of the first inlet 131 will be greater than the area of the second chamber
rear surface 555.
[0194] A vertical dimension of the front surface of the door assembly 500 will be greater
than the vertical dimension of the second area 1302. That is, a vertical dimension
of the first inlet 131 will be smaller than a front surface vertical dimension of
the door 530 (see FIG. 2) of the second chamber.
[0195] (a) and (b) in FIG. 6 illustrate an operating principle of the opening/closing driver
170. (a) in FIG. 6 shows the door assembly 500 in a closed state, and (b) in FIG.
6 shows the door assembly 500 in an open state.
[0196] The opening/closing driver 170 may push the door assembly 500 forward, causing the
door assembly 500 to be withdrawn in a direction away from the first inlet 131. Thereafter,
the user may pull or push a side surface of the door assembly 500 using a gap created
between the door assembly 500 and the first inlet 131 to move the door assembly 500
to one side of the cabinet 110.
[0197] It may be preferable that, during the opening and the closing of the door assembly
500, the front surface of the door assembly 500 is maintained to face forward at all
times. This is because, as the inputter/outputter 700 (see FIG. 5) disposed in the
front surface of the door assembly 500 always faces forward, the user may easily access
the inputter/outputter 700, and air inside the second chamber 550 may be circulated
to care for the laundry or the goods accommodated inside the second chamber 550.
[0198] That is, even when the first chamber 130 is open, the user may execute a care mode
of the second chamber 550. In other words, the door assembly 500 may be constructed
to move away from the first inlet 131 such that the front surface of the door assembly
500 faces forward, and then move to one side of the cabinet 110 such that the front
surface of the door assembly 500 is parallel to the first inlet 131. To this end,
the laundry treating apparatus 100 according to the present disclosure may use a scheme
of kinematic parallelogram four-bar linkages.
[0199] Accordingly, the user may open and close the door assembly 500 while maintaining
the first inlet 131 and the door assembly 500 facing away from each other. Accordingly,
the door assembly 500 may maintain the direction parallel to the first inlet 131 during
the opening and the closing.
[0200] That is, an angle between the front surface of the cabinet 110 and the door assembly
500 may be maintained constant. To this end, the first hinge 120 may move the door
assembly 500 forward of the first chamber 130 to separate the same from the first
inlet 131 and then move the door assembly 500 along the width direction of the cabinet
110. That is, even when the location of the door assembly 500 changes, the direction
the door assembly 500 faces may remain the same when opening and closing the first
inlet 131. This is because when the door assembly 500 opens the first inlet 131, the
front surface of the door assembly 500 moves while being directed in the forward direction
of the cabinet 110, in the same manner as when the door assembly 500 closes the first
inlet 131.
[0201] However, in a case of opening and closing the second inlet 512, the direction in
which the front surface of the door 530 of the second chamber faces may change. Unlike
the first hinge 120, when the second hinge 520 opens the door 530 of the second chamber,
the second inlet 512 and the door 530 of the second chamber pivot relative to each
other, so that an angle between the second inlet 512 and the door 530 of the second
chamber may always change (see FIG. 8).
[0202] Referring to (a) in FIG. 6, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may further include
the opening/closing driver 170 that pushes the door assembly 500 to open the door
assembly 500. The opening/closing driver 170 may be disposed between the cabinet top
surface 112 and the first chamber top surface 132 that forms the top surface of the
first chamber 130. For example, the opening/closing driver 170 may be coupled to a
lower side of the cabinet top surface 112. Alternatively, the opening/closing driver
170 may be disposed at a lower side of the first chamber top surface 132.
[0203] One opening/closing driver 170 may be sufficient, but there may be a plurality of
opening/closing drivers. The opening/closing driver 170 may be disposed not only between
the cabinet top surface 112 and the first chamber top surface 132, but also on the
first chamber bottom surface 135 that forms the bottom surface of the first chamber.
Alternatively, the opening/closing driver 170 may be located between the first chamber
bottom surface 135 and the bottom surface of the cabinet 110.
[0204] The reason why there are the plurality of opening/closing drivers 170 is to push
the door assembly 500 from the upper and lower sides to prevent the deformation of
the door assembly 500 or the hinge structure that couples the door assembly 500 to
the cabinet from occurring as the force is concentrated on one side or the unnecessary
torque is generated.
[0205] The opening/closing driver 170 may not be in contact with the accommodating body
510. The laundry treating apparatus 100 may further include the first hinge 120 in
the four-bar linkages scheme. (b) in FIG. 6 shows a state in which the opening/closing
driver 170 pushes the door assembly 500 forward and thus the door assembly 500 is
away from the first inlet 131.
[0206] The opening/closing driver 170 may include an opening/closing body 171 forming an
outer appearance thereof, an opening/closing motor 173 located inside the opening/closing
body 171, and an opening/closing link 172 that pushes the door assembly 500 to move
the same in the direction away from the first inlet 131 using a rotational force generated
by the opening/closing motor 173.
[0207] One surface of the opening/closing link 172 may have gear teeth, so that the opening/closing
link 172 may move in the front and rear direction of the cabinet 110 in a rack and
pinion-like manner. That is, when several gears engage and rotate with a rotation
shaft of the opening/closing motor 173 to reduce a rotational speed, and some of the
gears engage and rotate with the gear teeth disposed on one surface of the opening/closing
link 172, as the opening/closing link 172 moves forward and protrudes, the door assembly
500 may move in the direction away from the first inlet 131.
[0208] (a) in FIG. 6 shows an example in which the opening/closing link 172 is formed in
a curved shape. This is to prevent the opening/closing driver 170 from taking up a
significant portion of a space inside the first chamber as a length in the front and
rear direction thereof increases, considering a length that the opening/closing link
172 moves in the front and rear direction. In addition, this is because, when the
door assembly 500 is withdrawn forward by the first hinge 120, both links 1251 and
1252 of the first hinge 120 may pivot and thus a spacing therebetween may increase,
and at this time, a moving path of the door assembly 500 may be in a curved shape
rather than a straight shape. Even in such case, the front surface of the door assembly
500 may move while always facing forward.
[0209] When the opening/closing driver 170 pushes the door assembly 500 and a gap or a predetermined
separation distance (or an opening distance) is created between the first inlet 131
and the door assembly 500, the user may manually push or pull the door assembly 500
to move the same.
[0210] Accordingly, a maximum moving distance of the opening/closing link 172 may be a distance
until the accommodating body 510, which was inserted into the first chamber 130, is
withdrawn from the first inlet 131.
[0211] When the opening/closing link 172 moves the door assembly 500 by the predetermined
opening distance, the controller 490 may rotate the opening/closing motor 173 in an
opposite direction, so that the opening/closing link 172 may move to be inserted back
into the opening/closing body 171. This is because, when the opening/closing link
172 does not return to an original location thereof, the door assembly 500 may collide
with the opening/closing link 172 as the closing of the door assembly 500 is performed
by the user, unlike the opening.
[0212] Accordingly, considering the case in which the user closes the door assembly 500,
the controller 490 may return the opening/closing link 172 to the original location
thereof by rotating the opening/closing motor 173 in the opposite direction.
[0213] That is, to move the opening/closing link 172 from a first location, which is an
initial location, to a second location defined ahead of the first location, the controller
490 may rotate the opening/closing motor 173 in a first direction. The opening/closing
link 172 is not in contact with the door assembly 500 in the first location, but will
be in contact with the door assembly 500 while moving to the second location. Thereafter,
the opening/closing driver 170 will move the door assembly 500 in the forward direction
of the cabinet 110 by the predetermined opening distance.
[0214] Thereafter, when the opening/closing motor 173 rotates in a second direction opposite
to the first direction, the opening/closing link 172 may return from the second location
to the first location.
[0215] Additionally, because the opening/closing driver 170 does not need to be operated
when the door assembly 500 is closed, the controller 490 will operate the opening/closing
driver 170 only when the door assembly 500 is opened.
[0216] Even when the user closes the door assembly 500, the front surface of the door assembly
500 may always be maintained facing forward.
[0217] As shown in (b) in FIG. 6, the door assembly 500 may be moved with the front surface
always facing forward. This is because the second chamber 550 is not only for caring
for and storing the laundry or the goods accommodated, but also for displaying and
exhibiting the laundry or the goods. Therefore, this is to ensure that the user may
always see the second chamber 550. In addition, even when the first chamber 130 is
open, the inputter/outputter 700 disposed in the front surface of the door assembly
500 always faces forward, so that the user may easily access the inputter/outputter
700. Therefore, to care for the laundry or the goods accommodated inside the second
chamber 550, the user may circulate air inside the second chamber 550 via the inputter/outputter
700 regardless of whether the first chamber 130 is opened.
[0218] To this end, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may be equipped with the first hinge
120 of the parallelogram four-bar linkages type. That is, while pivotably connecting
the door assembly 500 to the cabinet 110, the first hinge 120 may open and close the
door assembly 500 such that the front surface of the door assembly 500 always faces
forward.
[0219] (a) and (b) in FIG. 7 show the laundry treating apparatus 100 and furniture F1 and
F2 disposed adjacent to the laundry treating apparatus 100. This is illustrated considering
that the laundry treating apparatus 100 is disposed together with general furniture
in a built-in type.
[0220] As shown, the second chamber 550 may be located in front of the first chamber 130.
Additionally, because the door assembly 500 includes the second chamber 550 therein,
at least the portion of the accommodating body 510 may be inserted into the first
chamber 130.
[0221] Considering the built-in type, a height and a depth FD1 of the laundry treating apparatus
100 will be designed in consideration of a size of the furniture F1 and F2 disposed
adjacently. Here, the depth FD1 refers to the length in the front and rear direction
of the laundry treating apparatus 100. The second chamber 550 may be disposed at a
side of the laundry treating apparatus 100, but in this case, the width occupied by
the laundry treating apparatus 100 becomes too great, which will not be desirable.
[0222] Additionally, to utilize the second chamber 550 not only for caring for the laundry
but also for the display and exhibition purposes, it will be desirable for the second
chamber 550 to be located in front of the first chamber 130 and the auxiliary chamber
150.
[0223] In addition, because placing objects to overlap each other in the depth direction
of the second chamber 550 is not suitable for the display and exhibition purposes,
a depth SD1 of the door assembly 500 will be smaller than the depth FD1 of the laundry
treating apparatus.
[0224] However, it may not be desirable for the second chamber 550 to protrude beyond the
laundry treating apparatus 100 in consideration of sense of unity with the adjacent
furniture. Accordingly, to not change the depth FD1 of the laundry treating apparatus,
the portion of the second chamber 550 may be inserted into the first chamber 130.
[0225] When the portion of the door assembly 500 is inserted into the first chamber 130,
a problem may occur when opening the door assembly 500 because of the size of the
door assembly 500. (a) and (b) in FIG. 7 show an arc with a radius of DR centered
on one side of the cabinet 110.
[0226] When the door assembly 500 is hinged to one side of the cabinet 110, a distance from
one side of the cabinet 110 to a point indicated by IA, that is, a corner where the
accommodating body rear surface 5105 and an accommodating body right side surface
5103 meet each other when the door assembly 500 pivots should be considered. This
is to prevent the corner from interfering with one side surface of the first chamber
130. Ultimately, when the door assembly 500 is hinged to one side of the cabinet 110,
the depth SD1 of the door assembly 500 or the width of the accommodating body rear
surface 5105 should be reduced.
[0227] When the door assembly 500 is hinged to the other side of the cabinet 110, interference
of an opposite corner should be considered. However, because the problem is the same,
only the case in which the door assembly 500 is hinged to one side is described herein.
[0228] The depth (or a thickness) of the door assembly 500 may be equal to or greater than
1/6 and equal to or smaller than 1/2 of the length in the front and rear direction
of the cabinet 110. This is in consideration of a size of the goods accommodated in
the second chamber 550. For example, it may be a numeric value determined by considering
a small standard size and a large standard size of bags carried by adult women.
[0229] Considering such numeric value, there may be a limit in reducing the depth SD1 of
the door assembly 500 or a width SW1 of the accommodating body rear surface 5105.
[0230] In addition, referring to (b) in FIG. 7, because the hinge causes interference with
the adjacent furniture F2 in an area indicated by IB, the laundry treating apparatus
100 and the adjacent furniture F2 should be spaced by a certain distance apart from
each other.
[0231] Even when the door assembly 500 opens without the interference, a portion of the
first inlet 131 may be obscured by the accommodating body 510, causing inconvenience
to the user. Here, "obscured" refers to a case in which the angle formed by the first
inlet 131 and the door assembly 500 is an acute angle.
[0232] To solve such problem, referring to FIG. 8, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may
include the cabinet 110 including the first inlet 131 defined in the front surface
thereof, the first chamber 130 located inside the cabinet 110 and accommodating the
laundry therein through the first inlet 131, the auxiliary chamber 150 located at
the lower side inside the cabinet 110 and forming the installation space therein separate
from the first chamber 130, the door assembly 500 that opens and closes the first
inlet 131, and the first hinge 120 that connects the door assembly 500 to the cabinet,
and the door assembly 500 may include the accommodating body 510 including the second
inlet 512 defined in the front surface thereof, the second chamber 550 located inside
the accommodating body 510 and formed to be separated from the first chamber 130 and
the auxiliary chamber 150, and accommodating the laundry therein through the second
inlet 512, the door 530 of the second chamber that opens and closes the second inlet
512, and the second hinge 520 that connects the door 530 of the second chamber to
the accommodating body 510.
[0233] The first hinge 120 may open and close the first inlet 131 such that the open direction
of the second inlet 512 is maintained when the door assembly 500 is opened and closed,
and the second hinge 520 may open and close the second inlet 512 via the pivoting
of the door 530 of the second chamber.
[0234] Maintaining the opening direction of the second inlet 512 means that the door assembly
500 moves while maintaining the direction thereof when the door assembly 500 is opened
or closed. When the user is located in front of the door assembly 500, the user will
face the second chamber 550. Even when the user opens or closes the door assembly
500, the direction of the door assembly 500 does not change, so that the user may
always check the second chamber 550.
[0235] In other words, the link disposed in the first hinge 120 pivots, but the second chamber
550 may always face forward via pivoting and translation of the door assembly 500.
Accordingly, the door assembly 500 will move in the front and rear direction or the
width direction of the cabinet 110 in parallel with the first inlet 131 to open and
close the first inlet 131.
[0236] In other words, when the door assembly 500 has opened or has closed the first inlet
131 or is opening or closing the first inlet 131, a location and a direction from
one arbitrary point of the door assembly 500 to another arbitrary point will not change.
[0237] The laundry treating apparatus 100 may include the first hinge 120 connecting the
door assembly 500 to the cabinet 110 between both side surfaces of the cabinet 110.
The first hinge 120 may be located at the upper portion and/or the lower portion inside
the cabinet 110. Specifically. The first hinge 120 may include a first upper hinge
128 disposed on the first chamber top surface 132 and a first lower hinge 129 disposed
on the first chamber bottom surface 135.
[0238] The first chamber top surface 132 may have a stepped shape. Accordingly, the first
chamber top surface may include a stepped surface 1323 (see FIG. 13) resulted from
a step height. This is to secure a space where the opening/closing driver 170 is installed
between the cabinet top surface 112 and the first chamber top surface 132.
[0239] In this case, the first upper hinge 128 may be located in front of the stepped surface
1323 on the first chamber top surface 132.
[0240] The first lower hinge 129 may be located in front of the auxiliary chamber 150 or
on the second bottom surface 1352.
[0241] Referring to FIG. 8, it may be seen that, in the first upper hinge 128 and the first
lower hinge 129 included in the first hinge 120, a pivoting length of the links 1251
and 1252 connecting the cabinet with the door assembly 500 is greater than a pivoting
length of connecting members 5251 and 5252 of the second hinge 520 connecting the
door 530 of the second chamber with the accommodating body 510. This is to prevent
the interference with the adjacent furniture by completely separating the door assembly
500 from the cabinet when opening the door assembly 500 or during the opening of the
door assembly 500. In addition, this is to prevent the door assembly 500 from obscuring
the first inlet 131 when the door assembly 500 is completely opened.
[0242] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, when the door 530 of the second chamber is
opened while the door assembly 500 is open, the interference with the adjacent furniture
resulted from the door 530 of the second chamber will not occur. However, when the
door 530 of the second chamber is opened while the door assembly 500 is closed, the
interference with the adj acent furniture may occur. Therefore, it will be desirable
for the second hinge 520 to be constructed so as not to protrude to the outside of
the cabinet 110 when the door 530 of the second chamber is closed.
[0243] To this end, lengths of the first link 1251 (see (b) in FIG. 10) and the second link
1252 (see (b) in FIG. 10), which will be described later in FIG. 10, may be greater
than lengths of a first connecting member 5251 (see (c) in FIG. 12) and a second connecting
member 5252 (see (c) in FIG. 12).
[0244] Referring to FIG. 9, the door assembly 500 may include the accommodating body 510
including the second inlet 512 defined in the front surface thereof and the second
chamber 550 therein, and the door 530 of the second chamber that opens and closes
the second inlet 512.
[0245] More specifically, referring to FIGS. 3 and 9, the second chamber 550 may be formed
by the accommodating housing 559 located inside the accommodating body 510. The user
may access the second chamber 550 through the second inlet 512.
[0246] More specifically, the door assembly 500 may further include a front panel 518 coupled
to the front surface of the accommodating body 510. The second inlet 512 may be defined
through the front panel 518.
[0247] Accordingly, the door assembly 500 may further include the front panel 518 formed
to face the door 530 of the second chamber while surrounding the second inlet 512
and coupled to the accommodating housing 559 and the accommodating body 510.
[0248] Alternatively, the front panel 518 may be formed integrally with the accommodating
housing 559 and then be coupled to the accommodating body 510 with the open front
surface.
[0249] Accordingly, the front panel 518 may be coupled to the front surfaces of the accommodating
body 510 and the accommodating housing 559, and the laundry treating apparatus 100
may accommodate the laundry or the goods in the second chamber 550 formed inside the
accommodating housing 559 through the second inlet 512 extendingg through the front
panel 518.
[0250] Because the door 530 of the second chamber may have a size corresponding to a size
of the front panel 518 surrounding the second inlet 512, the size of the door 530
of the second chamber may be greater than a size of the second inlet 512.
[0251] When the door 530 of the second chamber is closed, the door 530 may be coupled to
the front panel 518 to close the second inlet 512.
[0252] The second hinge 520 may be coupled to the front panel 518 or the accommodating body
510.
[0253] That is, the front panel 518 may include a front upper panel 5181 that forms an upper
portion of the front panel, a front lower panel 5184 that forms a lower portion of
the front panel, and a front left panel 5182 and a front right panel 5183 that connect
respective side surfaces of the front upper panel 5181 and respective side surfaces
of the front lower panel 5184 to each other.
[0254] The second inlet 512 may be defined by the front upper panel 5181, the front lower
panel 5184, the front left panel 5182, and the front right panel 5183. That is, the
front panel 518 will be located surrounding the second inlet 512. This is to prevent
wires, circuit boards, and various devices that may be located between the second
chamber 550 and the accommodating body 510 from being exposed to the user.
[0255] The second inlet 512 may be defined in a square shape.
[0256] The front upper panel 5181 may include an air inlet 51813 defined through the front
upper panel 5181. Air in the second chamber 550 may circulate through the air inlet
51813. The air inlet 51813 may be defined to extend along the width direction of the
door assembly 500.
[0257] Therefore, when the door 530 of the second chamber is closed, because the air inlet
51813 is located in the front panel 518, the air inlet 51813 will face the door 530
of the second chamber.
[0258] The door 530 of the second chamber may be coupled to the front surface of the accommodating
body 510, that is, the front panel 518 including the second inlet 512, to open and
close the second inlet 512. That is, the door 530 of the second chamber may be coupled
to the front panel 518 so as to cover at least an area including the air inlet 51813
and the second inlet 512.
[0259] That is, when the door 530 of the second chamber is closed, the second chamber 550
will be in communication with the internal space located between the accommodating
body 510 and the second chamber 550 via the air inlet 51813.
[0260] Additionally, FIG. 9 shows an example of a hanger assembly 800 and a shelf mounting
portion 5552 disposed in the second chamber 550. The hanger assembly 800 may include
the laundry hanger 830 that may hang the laundry in the second chamber 550. The laundry
hanger 830 may be mounted on or detached from the second chamber rear surface 555
that forms the rear surface of the second chamber 550.
[0261] The door assembly 500 may further include the hanger assembly 800 disposed in the
second chamber 550 to hang the laundry. The hanger assembly 800 may be mounted on
or coupled to a hanger mounting portion 5554 disposed in the second chamber 550. The
hanger assembly 800 is a kind of accessory and is detachable from the second chamber
550.
[0262] Specifically, the door assembly 500 may further include the hanger mounting portion
5554 that may install or mount the hanger assembly 800 on the second chamber rear
surface 555. The hanger mounting portion 5554 may vary depending on a shape of the
hanger assembly 800. For example, in a case of the hanger assembly 800, which has
an outer appearance of a general ring-shaped hanger, the hanger mounting portion 5554
may be in a shape of a hook protruding from the second chamber rear surface 555. The
user may display the laundry by hanging the ring of the hanger assembly 800 on the
hook.
[0263] In contrast, as shown in FIG. 9, in the case of the laundry hanger 830 coupled to
the second chamber rear surface 555, the hanger mounting portion 5554 may be in a
form of a groove or a hole in the second chamber rear surface 555. Accordingly, the
laundry hanger 830 may be coupled to the hanger mounting portion 5554 in a detachable
manner.
[0264] In one example, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may further include the shelf
580 (see FIG. 2) that is detachably disposed in the second chamber 550 and supports
the goods accommodated in the second chamber 550. In addition, the laundry treating
apparatus 100 may further include the shelf mounting portion 5552 for coupling with
the shelf that is coupled to the second chamber rear surface 555.
[0265] Specifically, the second chamber rear surface 555 may include the shelf mounting
portion 5552 in the form of the groove or the hole that extends along the width direction
of the door assembly 500.
[0266] The shelf 580 may be in a shape of a rectangular sheet. The shelf 580 may include
a shelf coupling portion 811 for coupling to the shelf mounting portion 5552 at a
rear surface thereof. The shelf mounting portion 5552 may include a plurality of shelf
mounting portions. Accordingly, the shelf 580 may also include a plurality of shelves
coupled to the shelf mounting portions 5552, respectively.
[0267] The shelf mounting portion 5552 is coupled to the second chamber rear surface 555,
and this is to separate both side surfaces of the shelf 580 from both side surfaces
of the second chamber for air circulation in the second chamber 550, which will be
described later.
[0268] FIG. 9 shows an example in which the hanger assembly 800 is coupled to one surface
of the second chamber 550 and the shelf 580 is separated from the shelf mounting portion
5552. Considering a size of the laundry hung on the hanger assembly 800, only some
of the plurality of shelves may be coupled to some of the plurality of shelf mounting
portions 5552 located below the hanger assembly 800. Even in a state in which the
hanger assembly 800 is not coupled, the user will be able to couple the shelves to
the shelf mounting portions 5552 while adjusting a spacing between the plurality of
shelves considering the size of the goods or the laundry accommodated in the second
chamber. That is, depending on the size of the goods to be accommodated and displayed,
the shelf 580 coupled to the rear surface of the second chamber 550 may be removed
or coupled.
[0269] (a) to (c) in FIG. 10 show the first hinge 120. The opening and closing direction
of the door assembly 500 may vary depending on whether the user is left-handed or
right-handed. Alternatively, the door assembly 500 may be set to be opened and closed
in a direction preferred by the user. The opening and closing direction of the door
assembly 500 may be set differently depending on a direction in which the same first
hinge 120 is installed. The first hinge 120 shown in (a) and (c) in FIG. 10 will move
the door assembly 500 to a left side of the user, and the first hinge 120 shown in
(b) in FIG. 10 will move the door assembly 500 to a right side of the user.
[0270] Referring to (b) in FIG. 10, the first hinge 120 may include a hinge coupling portion
127 coupled to the door assembly 500, a hinge receiving portion 121 coupled to the
cabinet, and a link 125 pivotably connected to the hinge coupling portion 127 and
the hinge receiving portion 121. The link 125 may be accommodated in the hinge receiving
portion 121 when the door assembly 500 closes the first inlet 131.
[0271] The link 125 may include the first link 1251 and the second link 1252 that pivotably
connect the hinge receiving portion 121 with the hinge coupling portion 127.
[0272] That is, the first hinge 120 may include the first link 1251 and the second link
1252 that are pivotably coupled to the cabinet 110 and the accommodating body 510
but are spaced apart from each other.
[0273] The first hinge 120 may move the door assembly 500 forward to be away from the first
inlet 131 via the pivoting of the first link 1251 and the second link 1252 and then
move the door assembly 500 parallel to the first inlet 131.
[0274] Because the first link 1251 and the second link 1252 are connected so as to be pivotable
at different points of the hinge receiving portion 121 and the hinge coupling portion
127, an overall outline may be in the form of four-bar linkages. In particular, because
the hinge receiving portion 121 and the hinge coupling portion 127 are respectively
coupled and fixed to the cabinet 110 and the door assembly 500, only the first link
1251 and the second link 1252 may pivot. Therefore, it may have a similar mechanism
to the parallelogram four-bar linkages.
[0275] That is, when the first link 1251 and the second link 1252 pivot, the hinge receiving
portion 121 and the hinge coupling portion 127 are only able to move to be parallel
to each other. Ultimately, the first link 1251 and the second link 1252 will also
pivot in parallel with each other by being spaced apart from each other.
[0276] The door assembly 500 will move in the direction parallel to the first inlet 131.
[0277] The door assembly 500 may move with the door 530 of the second chamber always facing
forward. Accordingly, the user may always see the second chamber 550 when opening
and closing the door assembly 500.
[0278] Additionally, when the door assembly 500 closes the first inlet, the first link 1251
and the second link 1252 may be disposed in the direction parallel to the door assembly
500 and be in contact with the door assembly 500. This may be referred to as the first
location or a folded state. When the opening/closing driver 170 pushes the door assembly
500, the door assembly 500 may pivot and be withdrawn forward simultaneously by the
first hinge 120. Further, the door assembly 500 will finally be moved to one side
of the laundry treating apparatus by the first hinge 120.
[0279] The first link 1251 and the second link 1252 of the first hinge 120 pivot, but because
they are spaced apart from each other, the front surface of the door assembly 500
always faces forward. Accordingly, it may appear to the user that the door assembly
500 is withdrawn in the direction away from the first inlet 131 and then moves laterally.
[0280] Strictly speaking, because the first link 1251 and the second link 1252 pivot at
a distance from each other, the door assembly 500 pivots by each individual link.
However, because the front surface of the door assembly 500 is always fixed facing
forward, the door assembly 500 may appear to be performing the translational motion.
[0281] Herein, it is described that the door assembly 500 moves forward by the predetermined
distance by the opening/closing driver 170 and then moves laterally. This type of
door may be called a gliding door or a swing door.
[0282] Considering lengths of the first link 1251 and the second link 1252, the first hinge
120 may open the door assembly 500 without interfering with the adjacent furniture.
Additionally, when the door assembly 500 is completely opened, the door assembly 500
moves to one side of the laundry treating apparatus 100 and does not obscure the first
inlet. Such state may be referred to as an unfolded state. This is to facilitate access
to the inputter/outputter 700 even when the door assembly 500 is opened or moved.
[0283] The first link 1251 and the second link 1252 may pivot at an angle greater than 90
degrees (°) and smaller than 180 degrees (°) from the folded state to the unfolded
state.
[0284] Referring to (c) in FIG. 10, the hinge coupling portion 127 may include an L-shaped
hinge bent portion 1275 that is formed to be bent at one side. This is to prevent
interference between the first link 1251 and the second link 1252 in the folded state.
[0285] FIG. 11 is an example of the second hinge 520. The door assembly 500 may further
include the second hinge 520 to pivotably couple the door 530 of the second chamber
to the accommodating body 510.
[0286] Because a thickness of the door 530 of the second chamber is smaller than a thickness
of the door assembly 500 and the door 530 is coupled to the front surface of the accommodating
body 510, the second hinge 520 does not need to operate like the first hinge 120.
Therefore, unlike the first hinge 120 moving away from the first inlet 131 and then
moving in the direction parallel to the first inlet 131, the second hinge 520, like
a general hinge, may be located at one side of the accommodating body 510 and pivot
the door 530 of the second chamber, thereby opening and closing the door 530 of the
second chamber.
[0287] However, when the second hinge 520 is constructed to be exposed to the outside, interference
with the adjacent furniture may occur, so that the second hinge 520 may be installed
on an inner surface of the door 530 of the second chamber, that is, a surface facing
the second inlet 512 among both surfaces of the door 530 of the second chamber, and
the accommodating body, so that the second hinge 520 may not be exposed to the outside
when the door 530 of the second chamber is closed.
[0288] Accordingly, a portion of the second hinge 520 may be coupled to the accommodating
body 510, and another portion of the second hinge may be coupled to the inner surface
of the door 530 of the second chamber.
[0289] When the second hinge 520 pivots and the state of the door 530 of the second chamber
is changed from the closed state to the open state, a maximum opening angle Θ of the
door 530 of the second chamber may be equal to or greater than 90 degrees (°) and
smaller than 180 degrees (°). When the maximum opening angle of the door 530 of the
second chamber is equal to or greater than 180 degrees (°), the interference with
the adjacent furniture may occur.
[0290] (a) to (c) in FIG. 12 show an example of the second hinge 520. Like the first hinge
120, the second hinge 520 may include a member receiving portion 521 coupled to the
accommodating body 510, a member coupling portion 527 coupled to the door of the second
chamber, and a connecting portion 525 connecting the member receiving portion 521
with the member coupling portion 527. The connecting portion 525 may include the first
connecting member 5251 and the second connecting member 5252. The member receiving
portion 521 may include a receiving portion fastening groove 5211 to be coupled to
the accommodating body 510 using a fastening member.
[0291] Similar to the member receiving portion 521, the member coupling portion 527 may
also include a first fastening hole 5271 and a second fastening hole 5272, which are
fastening holes for fixing the member coupling portion 527 to the inner surface of
the door 530 of the second chamber.
[0292] The second hinge 520 may include a plurality of second hinges, and may include a
second upper hinge 528 connecting upper portions of the door 530 of the second chamber
and the accommodating body 510 to each other, and a second lower hinge 529 connecting
lower portions of the door 530 of the second chamber and the accommodating body 510
to each other. (a) in FIG. 12 is an example of the second upper hinge 528, and (b)
in FIG. 12 is an example of the second lower hinge 529. Locations of the first fastening
holes 5271 of the second upper hinge 528 and the second lower hinge 529 are opposite
to each other. This is because a location of coupling with the door 530 of the second
chamber is taken into consideration. That is, because the second upper hinge 528 is
located at the upper portion of the door 530 of the second chamber, a fastening area
is secured at a lower side. The second lower hinge 529 will be opposite thereto.
[0293] Referring to (b) in FIG. 12, when the second hinge 520 fully opens the door of the
second chamber, a predetermined clearance distance K1 may exist between the member
receiving portion 521 and the member coupling portion 527. This is to prevent interference
between the door 530 of the second chamber and the accommodating body 510 in an area
HA shown in FIG. 11.
[0294] FIG. 13 briefly shows the first chamber 130 and the auxiliary chamber 150 and then
schematically shows a direction of air circulation. As described in FIGS. 3 and 4,
at least the portion of the door assembly 500 may be inserted into the first chamber
130.
[0295] Considering the size of the second chamber 550, the auxiliary chamber 150 must be
located at the rear of the door assembly 500, and therefore may be located separately
in a portion under the first chamber 130.
[0296] To this end, the first chamber bottom surface 135 may be stepped along the front
and rear direction of the cabinet 110. The first chamber bottom surface 135 may include
the first bottom surface 1351 and the second bottom surface 1352 having the different
vertical levels, and the vertical level of the first bottom surface 1352 may be higher
than the vertical level of the second bottom surface 1352.
[0297] The auxiliary chamber 150 may be located under the first bottom surface 1351. Accordingly,
because the length in the front and rear direction of the auxiliary chamber is reduced,
the air supply duct 411 will be located close to one of both side surfaces of the
cabinet 110 to efficiently place the mechanical devices inside the auxiliary chamber
150. That is, the air supply duct 411 will be disposed in a direction facing the one
side surface.
[0298] The connecting duct 413 may also be disposed in the left and right direction or the
width direction of the cabinet 110.
[0299] The supporter 489 may also be disposed in the left and right direction of the cabinet
110.
[0300] Additionally, the air intake port 137 in communication with the air supply duct 411
and the air discharge port 138 in communication with the discharge duct 419 may be
disposed in the left and right direction of the cabinet 110.
[0301] Ultimately, the flow of air circulating through the air supply 410 may be shown as
shown in FIG. 13. FIG. 13 is a view of the first chamber 130 from the first inlet
131.
[0302] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 13, assuming that the air discharge port 138 is located
on one side surface among both side surfaces of the first chamber and the air intake
port 137 is located on the other side surface among both side surfaces of the first
chamber 130, air discharged through the air supply 410 will flow upward toward the
first chamber top surface 132 along one side surface of the first chamber through
the air intake port 137. Thereafter, the flow direction of air will change by the
first chamber top surface 132, and air will meet the other side surface of the first
chamber 130 and flow downward again.
[0303] Ultimately, air that has flowed along the other side surface of the first chamber
130 will flow to the air supply 410 through the air intake port 137.
[0304] Air introduced into the air intake port 137 will first flow downward along the air
supply duct 411. Thereafter, air will pass through the blowing unit 412 and flow upward
again toward the connecting duct 413. This is because the blowing unit 412 is located
on the base 470, while the connecting duct 413 is located above the supporter 489.
[0305] That is, air will flow downward and then flow upward again from the air supply duct
411 to the connecting duct 413. This is to prevent condensate that may be introduced
via the air supply duct 411 from flowing into a heat exchanger 415 together. The condensate
may be separated from air at a lower portion of the air supply duct before being introduced
into the blowing unit 412 as the air flow direction changes.
[0306] In the case of steam supplied via the steam supply 450 (see FIG. 4) may also be circulated.
[0307] As the circulation direction of air and steam in the laundry treating apparatus 100,
which is the present disclosure, is set to the left and right direction rather than
the front and rear direction, a direction of the laundry support 600, especially the
hanger body 610, which hangs the laundry, may also be set differently.
[0308] To manage the laundry, air and steam should be evenly distributed throughout the
laundry. When the hanger body 610 is disposed in the width direction, only laundry
hung close to the air discharge port 138 and the steam discharge port 139 may be managed,
and laundry hung far away may not be cared for well because of the laundry hung close
to the ports. Therefore, for uniform distribution of air and steam, it will be desirable
for the laundry support 600 to be disposed along the front and rear direction of the
cabinet 110.
[0309] In one example, it may be inconvenient for the user to hang the laundry on the laundry
support 600. This is because, as a plurality of hanger grooves 6111 defined in the
laundry support 600 are arranged in the front and rear direction, distances from the
first inlet 131 to the hanger grooves 6111 are all different from each other. Therefore,
hanging the laundry in the deepest hanger groove may cause discomfort to the user.
[0310] To solve such problem, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may include the laundry
support 600 disposed along the front and rear direction of the cabinet 110, and the
hanger body 610 including the plurality of hanger grooves 6111 of the laundry support
600 may be extendable forward. Therefore, the user will be able to extend the hanger
body 610 forward via the first inlet 131 and hang the laundry thereon without inconvenience
of having to bend down.
[0311] FIG. 14 is an exploded view of the laundry support 600 disposed in the first chamber
130. The laundry support 600 may include the hanger body 610 disposed along the front
and rear direction of the cabinet 110 to hang the laundry thereon, and a hanger support
620 disposed along the front and rear direction of the cabinet 110 and located on
the hanger body 610 to support the hanger body 610.
[0312] The laundry support 600 may further include the laundry driver 640 that generates
a rotational force and a power converter 660 that converts the rotational movement
of the laundry driver 640 into a reciprocating movement along the front and rear direction
of the cabinet 110.
[0313] The laundry driver 640 may be located between the first chamber top surface 132 and
the cabinet top surface 112 to prevent exposure to the user and to prevent breakdown
caused by steam and hot air supplied to the first chamber.
[0314] Additionally, the laundry driver 640 may be supported by a hanger frame (not shown)
that supports the laundry driver 640. The hanger frame may also be located between
the first chamber top surface 132 and the cabinet top surface 112, and both ends of
the hanger frame may be coupled to the cabinet frame (not shown) that forms a skeleton
of the cabinet 110 or the cabinet 110. This is to prevent vibration of the laundry
driver 640 from being transmitted into the first chamber 130.
[0315] The laundry driver 640 may include a power motor 641 and a power transmitter 642
that is connected to a rotation shaft of the power motor and transmits power to the
power converter. FIG. 14 shows a driving pulley 6423, a driven pulley 6422, and a
belt 6421 connecting the driving pulley 6423 with the driven pulley 6422 as an example
of the power transmitter 642, but the present disclosure may not be limited thereto.
[0316] In addition, the laundry driver 640 may further include a pulley fixing member 6425
that is supported on the moving hanger frame and supports the driven pulley 6422.
[0317] The power converter 660 may include a rotatable portion 661 that is connected to
the driven pulley 6422 and rotates together when the driven pulley 6422 rotates, and
a converting member 662 that converts the rotation of the rotatable portion 661 into
a reciprocating movement. The rotatable portion 661 may perform a circular motion
of a certain radius by the rotatable portion 661 constructed to rotate at a distance
from a rotation shaft direction of the driven pulley 6422.
[0318] Specifically, the rotatable portion 661 may include a rotatable connecting member
connected to the rotation shaft at one end, an arm member connected to the other end
of the rotatable connecting member in a direction perpendicular to the rotation shaft,
and inserted rotatable member connected to the converting member 662 in a direction
parallel to the rotation shaft at the other end of the arm member.
[0319] FIG. 14 shows that the converting member 662 is defined at an upper side of the hanger
support 620 in a form of a groove or a hole defined along the front and rear direction
of the cabinet 110, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
[0320] The hanger support 620 may include a first support 622 and a second support 624 that
support both ends of the hanger support, respectively. The first support 622 and the
second support 624 will support the hanger support 620 when the hanger support 620
performs the reciprocating movement along the front and rear direction by the converting
member 662.
[0321] The laundry support 600 may include the hanger body 610 that is located below the
hanger support 620 so as to be spaced apart therefrom and hangs the laundry thereon.
The hanger support 620 and the hanger body 610 may extend along the front and rear
direction of the cabinet 110.
[0322] The hanger support 620 and the hanger body 610 may be coupled to each other to perform
the reciprocating movement by the laundry driver 640.
[0323] The hanger body 610 may include the plurality of hanger grooves 6111 where the laundry
may be hung. FIG. 14 shows the plurality of hanger grooves 6111 arranged at spacings
that are not uniform. This is to allow thin laundry, for example, a dress shirt to
be additionally hung. For example, FIG. 14 shows five hanger grooves. Among them,
first, third, and fifth hanger grooves are spaced apart from each other at an uniform
spacing, and second and fourth hanger grooves are located close to the first and fifth
hanger grooves, respectively. The first, third, and fifth hanger grooves are hanger
grooves that are arranged considering the size of the laundry. On the other hand,
the second and fourth hanger grooves may be used to additionally hang the laundry.
[0324] The hanger body 610 is coupled to the hanger support 620, but is extendable forward
via the first inlet 131 when necessary. That is, the hanger support 620 may further
include a moving rail 615 for moving the hanger body 610 forward. The hanger body
610 may further include a moving guider 617 that is located on the hanger body 610
and couples the hanger body 610 to the moving rail 615. When the moving guider 617
moves on the moving rail 615, the hanger body 610 may move in the front and rear direction
along the moving rail 615.
[0325] Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, the hanger body 610 may further include a hanger bar
611 including the plurality of hanger grooves 6111 for hanging the laundry. The hanger
body 610 may further include an upper hanger body 612 located on the hanger bar 611
to prevent interference with the moving rail 615 or the laundry support 600 when the
user hangs the laundry in the hanger grooves 6111.
[0326] The hanger bar 611 and the upper hanger body 612 may be spaced apart from each other
and face away from each other. The hanger bar 611 and the upper hanger body 612 may
be located to be spaced apart from each other and to be parallel with each other to
define a hanging space 6101, which is a space accessible to the user for hanging the
laundry. The hanger bar 611 and the upper hanger body 612 may be coupled to each other
by each connecting body 619 connecting each of both ends of the hanger bar 611 with
each of both ends of the upper hanger body 612.
[0327] That is, the hanging space 6101 may be defined by the hanger bar 611, the upper hanger
body 612, and each connecting body 619 connecting each of both ends of the hanger
bar 611 with each of both ends of the upper hanger body 612.
[0328] In other words, the hanger body 610 may include the hanging space 6101 defined through
the cabinet 110 in the width direction when the hanger body 610 is disposed in the
front and rear direction of the cabinet 110. The plurality of hanger grooves 6111
where the laundry may be hung may be located in a bottom surface of the hanging space
6101.
[0329] FIG. 15 shows an example in which the hanger body 610 extends forward of the hanger
support 620. The user may extend the hanger body 610 forward from the hanger support
620, hang the laundry, and then retract the hanger body 610 rearwards again.
[0330] Specifically, the laundry support 600 may be located along the front and rear direction
of the cabinet 110 in the first area 1301. When the laundry support 600 is located
in the first area 1301, the hanger bar 611 will be fixed to the upper hanger body
612 and will perform the reciprocating movement along the front and rear direction
of the cabinet 110 along with the upper hanger body 612 when the laundry driver 640
rotates. Thereafter, when the door assembly 500 is opened, the user may extend the
hanger bar 611 from the upper hanger body 612 and move the same in a direction toward
the first inlet 131.
[0331] That is, when the door assembly 500 is opened, the hanger bar 611 may be extended
from the upper hanger body 612 toward the first inlet, and at least a portion of the
hanger bar 611 may be located in the second area 1302.
[0332] In one example, when the laundry driver 640 rotates, the hanger body 610 and the
hanger support 620 will perform the reciprocating movement together along the front
and rear direction. Therefore, when the hanger body 610 is retracted, the hanger body
610 may unintentionally move in the front and rear direction along the moving rail
615 when the coupling with the hanger support 620 is not fixed.
[0333] This is a problem that occurs because the extension and retraction direction of the
hanger body 610 is the same as the reciprocating movement direction of the hanger
body 610.
[0334] To solve such problem, referring to (a) in FIG. 16, the laundry support 600 may further
include a hanger bar fixing groove 613 defined in one of the hanger support 620 and
the hanger body 610, and a hanger bar stopper 621 that is disposed in the other of
the hanger support 620 and the hanger body 610 and is able to insert a movement preventing
protrusion 625 into the hanger bar fixing groove 613 depending on whether the door
assembly 500 is opened.
[0335] (b) in FIG. 16 shows a state in which the movement preventing protrusion 625 of the
hanger bar stopper 621 is inserted into the hanger bar fixing groove 613 and thus
the hanger body 610 is fixed to the hanger support 620. (c) in FIG. 16 shows a state
in which the movement prevention protrusion 625 is separated from the hanger bar fixing
groove 613.
[0336] The hanger bar stopper 621 may include the movement preventing protrusion 625 that
may be inserted into the hanger bar fixing groove 613 and a moving motor 626 for inserting
the movement preventing protrusion 625 into the hanger bar fixing groove 613 or separating
the same from the hanger bar fixing groove 613.
[0337] The hanger bar stopper 621 may automatically insert the movement preventing protrusion
625 into the hanger bar fixing groove 613 or separate the same from the hanger bar
fixing groove 613 depending on whether the door assembly 500 is opened.
[0338] To this end, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may further include a door opening/closing
sensor 793 that senses whether the door assembly 500 is opened or closed. When the
door opening/closing sensor 793 senses the opening of the door assembly 500, the controller
490 may operate the moving motor 626 to separate the movement preventing protrusion
625 from the hanger bar fixing groove 613. In contrast, when the door opening/closing
sensor 793 senses the closing of the door assembly 500, the controller 490 may operate
the moving motor 626 in an opposite direction to insert the movement preventing protrusion
625 into the hanger bar fixing groove 613.
[0339] Referring to FIG. 5, the door opening/closing sensor 793 is shown as being located
in the rear surface of the door assembly 500, but the door opening/closing sensor
793 may be located anywhere as long as it may sense whether the door assembly 500
is opened or closed. For example, the door opening/closing sensor 793 may be disposed
on the first hinge 120.
[0340] That is, when the door assembly 500 closes the first inlet 131, the controller 490
will insert the movement preventing protrusion 625 into the hanger bar fixing groove
613 to couple the hanger body 610 with the hanger support 620. This is to prepare
for the reciprocating movement of the laundry support 600 in the future.
[0341] When the door assembly 500 is opened, there is a high possibility that the user will
extend the hanger body 610 forward, so that the controller 490 may separate the movement
preventing protrusion 625 from the hanger bar fixing groove 613 in preparation therefor.
Therefore, even when the user moves the hanger body 610 forward, interference between
the hanger body 610 and the movement preventing protrusion 625 will not occur.
[0342] (a) in FIG. 17 is a front view of the door assembly 500. (b) in FIG. 17 shows the
door 530 of the second chamber being opened. (a) in FIG. 17 shows another example
in which the laundry hanger 830 is hung on the hanger mounting portion 5554. Additionally,
the door 530 of the second chamber may be made of a transparent material, so that
the user may check the second chamber 550 without opening the door 530 of the second
chamber. Referring to (b) in FIG. 17, the door assembly 500 may further include the
shelf 580 on which the laundry or the goods may be placed in the second chamber 550.
[0343] The shelf 580 may store the laundry or the goods thereon. The shelf 580 may include
the plurality of shelves. Additionally, because the shelf 580 is detachable from the
shelf mounting portion 5552, the spacing between the plurality of shelves may be adjusted
based on the size of the goods being displayed.
[0344] (a) in FIG. 18 discloses another example of the laundry hanger 830 of the hanger
assembly 800 mounted on the hanger mounting portion 5554. The laundry hanger 830 may
include a hanger housing 832 that forms an outer appearance, and a ring 837 that mounts
the hanger housing 832 on the hanger mounting portion 5554.
[0345] The hanger housing 832 may include a central support 8323 located at a center of
the hanger housing 832 and an extension support 8321 extending from the central support
8323 to both sides and supporting the laundry.
[0346] Top and side surfaces of the extension support 8321 and a bottom surface of the hanger
housing 832, that is, the central support 8323 and a bottom surface of the extension
support 8321, may include a steam supply hole 836 that may supply steam to the laundry
hung on the laundry hanger 830 and an air supply hole 834 that may supply air.
[0347] The steam supply hole 836 and the air supply hole 834 may include a plurality of
steam supply holes and a plurality of air supply holes, respectively. Because it is
hygienic for steam and air to have different flow channels, the steam supply hole
836 and the air supply hole 834 will not be in communication with each other.
[0348] Referring to (a) in FIG. 18, the plurality of air supply holes 834 and the plurality
of steam supply holes 836 may be arranged along an extension direction of the extension
support 8321 in the top and side surfaces of the extension support 8321 and the bottom
surface of the hanger housing 832. Accordingly, the plurality of air supply holes
834 and the plurality of steam supply holes 836 may be arranged to face each other
along the front and rear direction of the hanger housing 832.
[0349] The laundry hanger 830 may further include a steam unit 835 located inside the hanger
housing 832 to generate steam and supply steam to the laundry via the steam supply
hole 836.
[0350] The laundry hanger 830 may further include a hanger fan 833 located in the hanger
housing 832 to suck air from the outside of the hanger housing 832 and supply air
via the air supply hole 834.
[0351] Specifically, an inlet hole (not shown) defined through a front surface of the hanger
housing 832 and the hanger fan 833 located in the inlet hole to suck air may be further
included.
[0352] The laundry hanger 830 may further include a hanger heater (not shown) located at
the rear of the hanger fan 833 to heat sucked air. Sucked air may be heated via the
hanger heater and then supplied via the air supply hole 834.
[0353] Accordingly, the air supply hole 834 will able to supply hot air or air at a room
temperature.
[0354] The steam unit 835 and the hanger fan 833 may be located at a center of the hanger
housing 832. This is to maintain balance of the laundry hanger 830 by reflecting weights
of the steam unit 835 and the hanger fan 833.
[0355] The laundry hanger 830 may further include a spacer 831 to prevent the laundry hung
on the laundry hanger 830 from being in contact with the extension support 8321. The
spacer 831 may define a predetermined space between the laundry and the extension
support 8321 to prevent the air supply hole 834 and the steam supply hole 836 located
in the extension support 8321 from unintentionally clogging by being in contact with
the laundry.
[0356] Referring to (a) in FIG. 18, an example of the hanger assembly 800 mounted on the
hanger mounting portion 5554 is disclosed. The hanger assembly 800 may include the
hanger housing 832 that forms an outer appearance, and the ring 837 that mounts the
hanger housing 832 on the hanger mounting portion 5554. Depending on a shape of the
laundry, the hanger housing 832 may include a neck 8323 that supports a neck area
of the laundry and a shoulder 8321 that supports a shoulder area of the laundry.
[0357] In the shoulder 8321, the left and right side surfaces of the hanger housing 832,
and the bottom surface of the hanger housing 832, the steam supply hole 836 that may
supply steam to the laundry hung on the hanger assembly 800 and the air supply hole
834 that may supply air may be located.
[0358] The steam supply hole 836 and the air supply hole 834 may include the plurality of
steam supply holes and the plurality of air supply holes. Because it is hygienic for
steam and air to have the different flow channels, the steam supply hole 836 and the
air supply hole 834 will not be in communication with each other.
[0359] Referring to (a) in FIG. 18, the plurality of air supply holes 834 and the plurality
of steam supply holes 836 may be arranged along the width direction in the shoulder
8321, the left and right side surfaces of the hanger housing 832, and the bottom surface
of the hanger housing 832. Accordingly, the plurality of air supply holes 834 and
the plurality of steam supply holes 836 may be arranged to face each other along the
front and rear direction of the hanger housing 832.
[0360] A size of the steam supply hole 936 may be smaller than a size of the air supply
hole 834. This is to allow steam to be discharged while being sprayed.
[0361] The air supply hole 834 may include an upper air supply hole 8341 defined in the
shoulder 8321, a side air supply hole 8343 defined in each of both sides of the hanger
housing 832, and a lower air supply hole 8345 defined in the bottom surface of the
hanger housing 832.
[0362] The hanger housing 832 may include an open bottom surface and may further include
a lower housing 8325 coupled to the open bottom surface. In this case, the lower air
supply hole 8345 will be defined through the lower housing 8325.
[0363] The steam supply hole 836 may include an upper steam supply hole 8361 defined in
the shoulder 8321, a side steam supply hole 8363 defined in each of both sides of
the hanger housing 832, and a lower steam supply hole 8365 defined in the bottom surface
of the hanger housing 832.
[0364] The hanger housing 832 may include the open bottom surface and may further include
the lower housing 8325 coupled to the open bottom surface. In this case, the lower
steam supply hole 8365 will be defined through the lower housing 8325.
[0365] The hanger assembly 800 may further include the spacer 831 to prevent the laundry
hung on the hanger assembly 800 from being in contact with the shoulder 8321. The
spacer 831 may define a predetermined space between the laundry and the shoulder 8321
to prevent the air supply hole 834 and the steam supply hole 836 located in the shoulder
8321 from unintentionally clogging by being in contact with the laundry.
[0366] (b) in FIG. 18 shows one side surface of the hanger mounting portion 5554. The hanger
mounting portion 5554 may have a shape of protruding from the accommodating space
rear surface 555. To mount the hanger assembly 800, the hanger mounting portion 5554
may include a hanger mounting groove 55541 defined by recessing the hanger mounting
portion 5554 along the width direction of the door assembly 500 and a connection terminal
contact portion 55542 that is disposed in the hanger mounting groove 55541 and supplies
power to the hanger assembly 800 or transmits a control signal.
[0367] That is, the ring 837 may include a connection terminal 8371 for receiving power
or receiving the control signal from the controller 490. Accordingly, when the ring
937 is mounted on the hanger mounting portion 5554, the connection terminal 8371 and
the connection terminal contact portion 55542 may be electrically connected to each
other. The connection terminal 8371 may include a plurality of connection terminals,
and the number of connection terminal contact portions 55542 may also be equal to
the number of connection terminals 8371. This is to achieve separate connections for
the power supply and the control signal.
[0368] (c) in FIG. 18 is an exploded view of the hanger assembly 800. The hanger assembly
800 may include the hanger housing 832 that forms an outer appearance, and the ring
837 that mounts the hanger housing 832 on the hanger mounting portion 5554.
[0369] The hanger housing 832 may include the neck 8323 that supports the neck area of the
laundry and the shoulder 8321 that supports the shoulder area of the laundry. A shape
of the neck 8323 and the shoulder 8321 may be that of a general hanger.
[0370] The hanger assembly 800 may further include the spacer 831 to separate the shoulder
8321 from the shoulder area of the laundry hung on the shoulder 8321. The spacer 831
may be coupled to the shoulder 8321 to prevent the laundry and the shoulder 83231
from coming into close contact with each other.
[0371] The hanger assembly 800 may further include the hanger fan 833 disposed inside the
hanger housing 832 to suck air from the accommodating space 550 and supply air to
the laundry hung on the hanger assembly 800. Specifically, the inlet hole (not shown)
defined through the front surface of the hanger housing 832 and the hanger fan 833
located in the inlet hole to suck air may be further included.
[0372] Additionally, the hanger assembly 800 may further include a hanger heater 839 that
heats air sucked by the hanger fan 833. The sucked air may be heated via the hanger
heater 839 and then supplied via the air supply hole 834. Accordingly, the air supply
hole 834 may supply hot air or air at the room temperature.
[0373] The hanger housing 832 may include a housing through-hole 8329 for sucking air from
the accommodating space 550 by the hanger fan 833. The hanger fan 833 may be located
in the housing through-hole 8329.
[0374] The hanger assembly 800 may further include the steam unit 835 located inside the
hanger housing 832 to generate steam and supply steam to the laundry via the steam
supply hole 836.
[0375] Additionally, the hanger assembly 800 may further include a hanger water supply tank
838 for supplying water to the steam unit 835. The hanger housing 832 may include
a water supply tank installation portion 8328 into which the hanger water supply tank
838 is detachably coupled.
[0376] The water supply tank installation portion 8328 may be recessed inward from the hanger
housing 832. When the hanger water supply tank 838 is coupled to the water supply
tank installation portion 8328, an outer surface of the hanger housing 832 and a front
surface of the hanger water supply tank 838 will be able to form a smooth coplanar
surface.
[0377] The steam unit 835 and the hanger fan 833 may be located at the center of the hanger
housing 832. This is to maintain the balance of the hanger assembly 800 by reflecting
the weights of the steam unit 835 and the hanger fan 833.
[0378] The hanger assembly 800 may further include an air flow channel body 851 that is
disposed inside the hanger housing 832 and is for discharging air sucked by the hanger
fan 833 to the air supply hole 834.
[0379] The air flow channel body 851 may be formed in a similar shape to the hanger housing
832.
[0380] The air flow channel body 851 may include an internal air hole 854 defined through
a top surface or a side surface of the air flow channel body 851 to discharge air
sucked by the hanger fan 8328 via the air supply hole 834. The internal air hole 854
may further include an upper internal air hole 8541 defined at a location corresponding
to the upper air supply hole 8341 and a side internal air hole 8543 defined at a location
corresponding to the side air supply hole 8343.
[0381] In one example, a lower portion of the air flow channel body 851 may have an open
shape.
[0382] Likewise, the hanger assembly 800 may further include a steam flow channel body 852
disposed inside the hanger housing 832 to discharge steam generated by the steam unit
835 to the steam supply hole 836.
[0383] The steam flow channel body 852 may include the internal air hole 854 defined through
a top surface or a side surface of the steam flow channel body 852 to discharge air
sucked by the hanger fan 8328 via the steam supply hole 836. The internal steam hole
856 may further include an upper internal steam hole 8561 defined at a location corresponding
to the upper steam supply hole 8341 and a side internal steam hole 8563 defined at
a location corresponding to the side air supply hole 8343.
[0384] In one example, a lower portion of the steam flow channel body 852 may have an open
shape.
[0385] The hanger water supply tank 838 may be located at a center of the steam flow channel
body 852. That is, the steam flow channel body 852 may include a first steam body
8321 and a second steam body 8322 located under both shoulders 8321 inside the hanger
housing 832 for an installation space of the hanger water supply tank 838, respectively,
and a steam connecting body 8323 that allows the first steam body 8321 and the second
steam body 8322 to be in communication with each other.
[0386] The first steam body 8321 and the second steam body 8322 are in communication with
each other by the steam connecting body 8323, which is to equalize internal steam
pressures of the first steam body 8321 and the second steam body 8322 to prevent steam
from excessively coming out of only one side.
[0387] The first steam body 8321 and the second steam body 8322 may have shapes that are
symmetrical to each other about the steam connecting body 8223.
[0388] Because the steam connecting body 8323 only needs to connect both shoulders to each
other, the steam connecting body 8323 may be smaller in size than the first steam
body 8321 and the second steam body 8322.
[0389] Accordingly, the hanger water supply tank 838 and the steam unit 8350 may be located
under the steam connecting body 8323.
[0390] The steam flow channel body 852 may be located in front of the air flow channel body
851. That is, the steam flow channel body 852 may be located closer to the supply
tank installation portion 8328 than the air flow channel body 851. This is to shorten
a flow channel to the hanger water supply tank 838.
[0391] Likewise, when the air supply hole 834 and the steam supply hole 836 are defined
in two rows in the top, side, and bottom surfaces of the hanger housing 832, the steam
supply hole 836 may be located closer to one surface of the hanger housing 8320 where
the supply tank installation portion 8328 is located than the air supply hole 834.
[0392] The hanger fan 833 and the hanger water supply tank 838 may be located in the same
direction. Additionally, the hanger heater 839 may be located above the steam flow
channel body 852.
[0393] The controller 490 may control the hanger heater 839, the hanger fan 833, and the
steam unit 835.
[0394] FIG. 19 is an example of the second chamber top surface 551. The door assembly 500
may further include an upper lighting 591 disposed on the second chamber top surface
551 to emit light to the goods or the laundry accommodated in the second chamber 550.
[0395] Because the purposes of the second chamber 550 include the display, the door assembly
500 may further include lightings 587 and 590 to make the goods or the laundry accommodated
in the second chamber 550 to stand out.
[0396] The upper lighting 591 may radiate light downward on the accommodated goods. Therefore,
the goods illuminated by the upper lighting 591 will be able to achieve a highlight
effect that focuses attention of the user looking at the second chamber.
[0397] The door assembly 500 may further include a lower auxiliary space (not shown) located
separately in a lower portion of the second chamber 550 inside the accommodating body
510. That is, the door assembly 500 may further include the lower auxiliary space
(not shown) separated from the second chamber 550 between the accommodating body 510
and the second chamber 550. The lower auxiliary space may include the electrical and
mechanical devices required for the door assembly 500.
[0398] Accordingly, the second chamber 550 may define a space independent of the first chamber
130. Here, the independent space means that temperature and humidity may be adjusted
separately from the first chamber 130. This is to enable the temperature and humidity
adjustment independently of the first chamber 130 to use the second chamber 550 for
the display and care purposes.
[0399] The independent temperature and humidity adjustment of each chamber is to prevent
energy from being wasted as hot air or steam is unnecessarily supplied to the other
chamber when only one of the first chamber 130 and the second chamber 550 is used.
Additionally, both chambers may be used with different temperatures and humidities
for different purposes.
[0400] The laundry treating apparatus 100 may spray steam or supply hot air using the various
electrical or mechanical devices disposed in the auxiliary chamber 150 only when it
is necessary to care for the laundry accommodated in the first chamber 130. In addition,
the laundry treating apparatus 100 may further include an air conditioner (not shown)
separately disposed to dehumidify or heat air of the second chamber 550 to care for
the laundry accommodated in the second chamber 550.
[0401] The air conditioner may include at least one of an air circulator 560 and an air
treater 570, which will be described later.
[0402] Referring to FIG. 19, an upper auxiliary space (not shown) defined by the second
chamber top surface 551, the accommodating body 510, and the front upper panel 5181
may be located at an upper portion of the door assembly 500. That is, the upper auxiliary
space may be located separately in an upper portion of the second chamber 550 inside
the accommodating body 510. Additionally, the upper lighting 591 may be located in
the upper auxiliary space.
[0403] The second chamber top surface 551 may include a lighting installation hole 5512
defined through the second chamber top surface 551. The upper lighting 591 may irradiate
light to the second chamber 550 via the lighting installation hole 5512.
[0404] The upper lighting 591 may emit light with a color of one of cooldaylight, incandlelight,
and daylight colors.
[0405] The laundry treating apparatus 100 may include the cabinet 110 including the first
inlet 131 defined in the front surface, the first chamber 130 located inside the cabinet
110 and accommodating the laundry via the first inlet 131, the auxiliary chamber 150
located at the lower side inside the cabinet 110 to define the installation space
separate from the first chamber 130, the door assembly 500 coupled to the cabinet
110 to open and close the first inlet 131, the second chamber 550 located inside the
door assembly 500 and formed separately from the first chamber 130 and the auxiliary
chamber 150, and the air circulator 560 disposed in the door assembly 500 to circulate
air in the second chamber 550.
[0406] That is, the door assembly 500 may further include the air circulator 560 located
between the second chamber 550 and the accommodating body 510 to circulate air in
the second chamber 550. The air circulator 560 may suck air of the second chamber
550 via the air inlet 51813 defined through the front upper panel 5181 and then discharge
air that has passed through the circulator 560 to the second chamber 550 via an air
outlet 5511 located in the second chamber top surface 551.
[0407] Referring to FIG. 19, the door assembly 500 may further include the air outlet 5511
in which at least a portion of a rear portion of the second chamber top surface 551
is opened along the width direction of the door assembly 500.
[0408] The second chamber 550 may be formed by an accommodating housing 559 located inside
the accommodating body 510. That is, the accommodating body 510 may include the second
inlet 512 in the front surface thereof and may include the accommodating housing 559
forming the second chamber 550 therein. Therefore, the accommodating housing 559 may
include the second chamber top surface 551, the second chamber bottom surface 554,
the second chamber left side surface 552 and the second chamber right side surface
553 connecting the second chamber top surface 551 with the second chamber bottom surface
554, and the second chamber rear surface 555.
[0409] Referring to FIG. 20, the door assembly 500 may include the air circulator 560 located
between an accommodating body top surface 5101 and the second chamber top surface
551 to circulate air in the second chamber 550.
[0410] FIG. 20 show an example in which the air circulator 560 is located between the accommodating
body top surface 5101 and the second chamber top surface 551.
[0411] In contrast, when air in the second chamber 550 may be circulated, the air circulator
560 may be located anywhere between the accommodating body 510 and the accommodating
housing 559.
[0412] Referring to FIGS. 20 and 21, the air circulator 560 may include a circulating flow
channel 563 that sucks air from the second chamber 550 and discharges the air and
a heater 561 that heats air passing through the circulating flow channel 563. The
heater 561 may be located inside the circulating flow channel 563. However, this is
only an example and the heater 561 may be located outside the circulating flow channel.
[0413] The heater 561 may include a circulating heater 5611 that heats air passing through
the circulating flow channel 563. In addition to the circulating heater 5611, the
heater 561 may be implemented in other ways as long as it may heat air passing through
the circulating flow channel 563. For example, the circulation heater 5611 may be
formed in a film shape to surround the circulating flow channel 563.
[0414] The circulating flow channel 563 may include a first circulating duct 5631 that sucks
air of the second chamber 550 and allows air to flow, and a second circulating duct
5632 that is in communication with the first circulating duct 5631 and allows air
sucked into the first circulating duct 5631 to flow and discharges air to the second
chamber 550.
[0415] The door assembly 500 may further include the air inlet 51813 that is located at
the upper portion of the door assembly 500 and is in communication with one end of
the circulating flow channel 563 to suck air from the second chamber 550, and the
air outlet 5511 that is located at the upper portion of the door assembly 500 and
is in communication with the other end of the circulating flow channel 563 to discharge
air to the second chamber 550.
[0416] The first circulating duct 5631 may be in communication with the air inlet 51813
located in the front panel 518, and the second circulating duct 5632 may be in communication
with the air outlet 5511 located in the second chamber top surface 551.
[0417] The air circulator 560 may further include a circulating fan 565 that rotates to
suck air from the second chamber 550.
[0418] The circulating fan 565 may suck air from the second chamber 550 by using a motor
to generate a suction force via a fan disposed on the rotation shaft of the motor.
[0419] Specifically, the circulating fan 565 may be located on the circulating flow channel.
(b) in FIG. 20 shows that the circulating fan 565 is disposed inside the first circulating
duct 5631, but this is only an example.
[0420] For example, the circulating fan 565 may be located adjacent to the air inlet 51813
or adjacent to the air outlet 5511. Inside the circulating flow channel 563, the circulating
fan 565 may be located upstream or downstream from the heater 561.
[0421] The heater 561 may be located inside the second circulating duct 5632.
[0422] Referring to FIG. 20, the air inlet 51813 and the air outlet 5511 may be formed in
a rectangular shape along the width direction of the door assembly 500.
[0423] Accordingly, a length of the circulating flow channel 563 along the width direction
of the door assembly 500 may be greater than a length of the circulating flow channel
563 along the front and rear direction of the door assembly 500.
[0424] That is, lengths of the first circulating duct 5631 and the second circulating duct
5632 along the width direction of the door assembly 500 may be greater than lengths
of the first circulating duct 5631 and the second circulating duct 5632 along the
front and rear direction of the door assembly 500, respectively.
[0425] Additionally, the first circulating duct 5631 may be located on the second circulating
duct 5632.
[0426] Additionally, the first circulating duct 5631 may be located closer to the door of
the second chamber than the second circulating duct 5632. This is because circulating
air rearward is more advantageous in terms of heat loss than circulating air forward.
[0427] Because of a shape of the circulating flow channel 563, the circulating fan 565 may
include a plurality of circulating fans. The plurality of circulating fans 565 may
be arranged along the width direction of the door assembly 500.
[0428] Likewise, the heater 561 may include a plurality of heaters (not shown). Alternatively,
a coil heater that generates heat in the single heater may be formed to extend along
the width direction of the door assembly 500. That is, the coil heater may be formed
in a serpentine shape.
[0429] In one example, the door assembly 500 may include a circulating temperature sensor
797 that measures the temperature of the second chamber 550. A detailed description
thereof will be made later with reference to FIG. 21.
[0430] Referring to FIG. 21, when the door 530 of the second chamber closes the second inlet
512, a predetermined gap G may be defined between the front panel 518 and the door
530 of the second chamber. This is because the inner surface of the door 530 of the
second chamber protrudes along an edge or a sealing member (not shown) such as a gasket
surrounds the edge of the inner surface of the door 530 of the second chamber. Alternatively,
the front panel 518 may be formed to protrude along the edge of the front panel.
[0431] Accordingly, because the air inlet 51813 located in the front upper panel 5181 is
not in contact with the door of the second chamber, the air inlet 51813 may be in
communication with the second chamber 550. That is, when the door 530 of the second
chamber closes the second inlet 512, air in the second chamber 550 may flow to the
air circulator 560 via the air inlet 51813.
[0432] Referring to FIG. 21, the circulating flow channel 563 may be located above the lightings
587 and 590 at a location between the accommodating body top surface 5101 and the
second chamber top surface 551.
[0433] In one example, the air circulator 560 may adjust the temperature of the second chamber
550 by circulating and simultaneously heating air in the second chamber 550 via the
heater 561. A volume of the second chamber 550 is not only smaller than a volume of
the first chamber 130, but also the second chamber 550 has a main purpose of adjusting
the temperature and the humidity when displaying the laundry hung in the second chamber
550, so that the heater 561 may be sufficient with only the circulating heater 5611
unlike the heat pump module disposed inside the auxiliary chamber 150.
[0434] The heater 561 may operate only when heating air in the second chamber 550. That
is, when a temperature of air in the second chamber 550 reaches a preset target temperature,
the operation of the heater 561 may be stopped.
[0435] To this end, the door assembly 500 may include the circulating temperature sensor
797 (see (a) in FIG. 20) that measures the temperature of the second chamber 550.
The circulating temperature sensor 797 is shown as being disposed at the upper portion
of the second chamber 550, but this is only an example. The circulating temperature
sensor 797 may be located elsewhere as long as the internal temperature of the second
chamber 550 may be measured.
[0436] Based on the temperature measured by the circulating temperature sensor 797, the
controller 490 may control the circulating fan 565 and the circulating heater 5611.
When the temperature is higher than the target temperature, the controller 490 may
stop the circulating heater 5611 and operate only the circulating fan 565.
[0437] FIG. 22 shows an example of a bottom surface of the second chamber 550. FIG. 23 shows
a cross-section of the air treater 570 located between the accommodating body 510
and the accommodating housing 559.
[0438] The door assembly 500 may further include the air treater 570 located between the
accommodating body 510 and the second chamber bottom surface 554 to suck air from
the second chamber 550 and circulate air.
[0439] The air treater 570 may circulate air in the second chamber 550 similarly to the
air circulator 560. When the air treater 570 is located in the upper portion of the
second chamber 550, the air circulator 560 may be located in the lower portion of
the second chamber 550.
[0440] That is, the air circulator 560 and the air treater 570 may be located anywhere as
long as they may purify air in the second chamber 550. Additionally, to condition
air in the second chamber 550, only one of the air circulator 560 and the air treater
570 may be disposed.
[0441] Referring to FIG. 22, the second chamber bottom surface 554 forming the bottom surface
of the second chamber 550 may include a bottom suction hole 5541 and a bottom discharge
hole 5542 defined through the second chamber bottom surface 554.
[0442] That is, the door assembly 500 may further include the bottom suction hole 5541 located
in the bottom surface of the second chamber 550 and in communication with a first
treating duct 5731, and the bottom discharge hole 5542 located in the bottom surface
of the second chamber 550 and in communication with a second treating duct 5732.
[0443] When the bottom suction hole 5541 is located at a center of the second chamber bottom
surface 554, the bottom discharge hole 5542 may be located close to the second chamber
left side surface 552 or the second chamber right side surface 553. To form a flow
channel between the bottom suction hole 5541 and the bottom discharge hole 5542, the
bottom discharge hole 5542 and the bottom suction hole 5541 may be arranged along
the width direction of the door assembly 500 in the second chamber bottom surface
554.
[0444] The bottom suction hole 5541 may include a plurality of bottom suction holes and
the plurality of bottom suction holes may be located close to both side surfaces of
the second chamber 550. That is, when one bottom suction hole 5541 is close to the
second chamber left side surface 552, another bottom suction hole 5541 may be located
close to the second chamber right side surface 553.
[0445] A bottom suction cover (not shown) including a plurality of through-holes may be
coupled to the bottom discharge hole 5541.
[0446] The bottom discharge hole 5542 may be defined to extend along the front and rear
direction of the door assembly 500 to circulate air along one side surface of the
second chamber 550.
[0447] Referring to FIGS. 22 and 23, the air treater 570 may include a treating flow channel
573 that defines a flow channel through which air of the second chamber 550 passes,
and a dehumidifier 571 that is disposed in the treating flow channel 573 to dehumidify
air passing through the treating flow channel 573.
[0448] While the air circulator 560 includes the heater 561 to supply hot air to the second
chamber, the air treater 570 may include the dehumidifier 571 to dehumidify air of
the second chamber 550.
[0449] The dehumidifier 571 may be implemented using a heat pump unit, but considering a
size of a space where the dehumidifier is installed, the dehumidifier 571 may include
a thermoelectric module 5711 utilizing the Peltier effect.
[0450] Unlike the air supply 410, which circulates and dehumidifies air in the first chamber
130, the dehumidifier 571, which circulates and dehumidifies air in the second chamber
550, circulates air in the second chamber 550 that has the volume relatively smaller
than the volume of the first chamber 130, so that a bulky device such as a heat pump
may not be needed.
[0451] In addition, because the second chamber 550 is to maintain the temperature and the
humidity during the display, much condensate will not be generated as in a drying
process of drying the laundry by operating the air supply 410 in the first chamber
130. Therefore, moisture condensed in the dehumidifier 571 may naturally evaporate.
[0452] In one example, the door assembly 500 may include a lower lighting 599 that is located
on the second chamber bottom surface 554 and emits light upward. This is to irradiate
light to the goods to be disposed on the second chamber bottom surface 554. Because
the second chamber bottom surface 554 includes the bottom discharge hole 5542 and
the bottom suction hole 5541, the lower lighting 599 may be formed in a shape of a
plate in a remaining area excluding those.
[0453] The lower lighting 599 may emit light with a color of one of cooldaylight, incandlelight,
and daylight colors.
[0454] FIG. 24 shows an example of the air treater 570. The air treater 570 may include
the treating flow channel 573 that circulates air in the second chamber 550 and the
dehumidifier 571 that dehumidifies air passing through the treating flow channel 573.
[0455] The dehumidifier 571 may be formed in a shape of the thermoelectric module and may
be located on the circulating flow channel. When electricity is applied to the thermoelectric
module because of the Peltier effect, a temperature of one surface of the thermoelectric
module will fall below the room temperature and a temperature of the other surface
will rise above the room temperature.
[0456] Accordingly, air passing through the one surface will be cooled and dehumidified
as a temperature thereof drops. On the other hand, air passing through the other surface
that is heated will become high-temperature dry air as a temperature thereof rises.
[0457] The dehumidifier 571 may include the thermoelectric module 5711, a thermoelectric
cooler 57113 that is coupled to the one surface, which is cooled, among the surfaces
of the thermoelectric module 5711 to cool air, and a thermoelectric heater 57115 that
is coupled to the other surface to heat air.
[0458] The thermoelectric cooler 57113 may be formed in a fin shape to expand a cross-sectional
area of the one surface, which is cooled, of the thermoelectric module 5711, thereby
enabling more effective heat exchange with air passing through the thermoelectric
cooler 57113. The fin may include a plurality of fins, and may be referred to as a
cooling fin.
[0459] The thermoelectric heater 57115 may also be formed in the fin shape to expand a cross-sectional
area of one surface, which is heated, of the thermoelectric module 5711, thereby enabling
more effective heat exchange with air passing through the thermoelectric heater 57115.
The fin may include a plurality of fins, and may be referred to as a heating fin.
The thermoelectric heater 57115 is originally to dissipate heat from the other surface,
which is heated, of the thermoelectric module 5711 to the outside, but this means
that the thermoelectric heater 57115 heats air passing through the thermoelectric
heater 57115.
[0460] The treating flow channel 573 may include the first treating duct 5731 that sucks
air from the second chamber 550 and allows air to flow, and the second treating duct
5732 that is in communication with the first treating duct 5731 to allow air that
has passed through the first treating duct 5731 to the second chamber to be discharged.
[0461] The first treating duct 5731 and the second treating duct 5732 may include the thermoelectric
cooler 57113 and the thermoelectric heater 57115 of the thermoelectric module 5711,
respectively. Accordingly, air passing through the first treating duct 5731 will be
dehumidified, and air passing through the second treating duct 5732 will be heated.
[0462] Specifically, air sucked in communication with the bottom suction hole 5541 will
be cooled by the thermoelectric module 5711 while passing through the first treating
duct 5731. Air cooled while passing through the first treating duct 5731 will be heated
by the thermoelectric module 5711 while passing through the second treating duct 5732.
[0463] To this end, the thermoelectric module 5711 may be located between the first treating
duct 5731 and the second treating duct 5732, so that the thermoelectric cooler 57113
may be in contact with the first treating duct 5731 or may be inserted into the first
treating duct 5731, and the thermoelectric heater 57115 may be in contact with the
second treating duct 5732 or may be inserted into the second treating duct 5732.
[0464] That is, the first treating duct 5731 may be located upward of the second treating
duct 5732.
[0465] The first treating duct 5731, the thermoelectric module 5711, and the second treating
duct 5732 may be stacked sequentially from top to bottom.
[0466] The air treater 570 may include a treating fan 575 for circulating air in the second
chamber 550 via the treating flow channel 573.
[0467] In one example, to smoothly dissipate heat of the thermoelectric heater 57115 separately
from the treating fan 575, the thermoelectric heater 57115 may include a heat dissipating
fan 576. Additionally, the thermoelectric heater 57115 may be a plurality of heat
dissipating fins or a plurality of heating fins formed in the fin shape.
[0468] That is, the air treater 570 may further include the treating fan 575 that is located
in the first treating duct 5731, sucks air from the second chamber 550, and guides
air to the thermoelectric cooler 57113, and the heat dissipating fan 576 that guides
air that passes through the first treating duct 5731 to the second treating duct 5732.
[0469] The fin-shaped thermoelectric heater 57115 may be attached to the thermoelectric
module 5711 to help dissipate heat from the thermoelectric module 5711 and effectively
heat air passing through the second treating duct 5732.
[0470] The heat dissipating fan 576 may increase a speed of air passing through the treating
flow channel 573 such that heat transfer occurs more effectively in the thermoelectric
heater 57115. Air passing through the second treating duct 5732 will ultimately be
able to more effectively exchange heat with the thermoelectric heater 57115 by the
heat dissipating fan 576. To this end, the heat dissipating fan 576 may be located
between the thermoelectric cooler 57113 and the thermoelectric heater 57115.
[0471] Because a space between the second chamber bottom surface 554 and an accommodating
body bottom surface 5104 is narrow, the first treating duct 5731 and the second treating
duct 5732 may be disposed to extend along the width direction of the door assembly
500.
[0472] In addition, as shown in (b) in FIG. 24, because one thermoelectric module 5711 performs
the cooling and the heating simultaneously, the first treating duct 5731 and the second
treating duct 5732 may be formed in the stacked structure. The first treating duct
5731 may be located on the second treating duct 5732.
[0473] The thermoelectric module 5711 will be located between the first treating duct 5731
and the second treating duct 5732.
[0474] Accordingly, air introduced into the first treating duct 5731 via the bottom suction
hole 5541 may meet the thermoelectric cooler 57113 and be cooled, so that air will
flow towards one side surface of the accommodating body 510 along the first treating
duct 5731, that is, along the width direction of the door assembly 500.
[0475] Thereafter, air passing through the first treating duct 5731 will flow to the second
treating duct 5732 that is in communication with one end of the first treating duct
5731. Because the second treating duct 5732 is located under the first treating duct
5731, air passing through the first treating duct 5731 will also flow downward.
[0476] Air that has entered the second treating duct 5732 will flow toward the other side
surface of the accommodating body along the second treating duct 5732, that is, along
the width direction of the door assembly 500.
[0477] That is, because of narrowness of the space in which the air treater 570 is mounted,
when the bottom discharge hole 5542 is located closer to one side surface among both
side surfaces of the accommodating body than to the other side surface around the
bottom suction hole 5541, the first treating duct 5731 may be formed to extend in
a direction opposite to the side on which the bottom discharge hole 5542 is located,
that is, toward the other side surface of the accommodating body 510.
[0478] Accordingly, a length of the second treating duct 5732 may be greater than a length
of the first treating duct 5731.
[0479] The air treater 570 may further include the treating fan 575 to smoothly suck air
of the second chamber 550 in the first treating duct 5731. Additionally, the air treater
570 may further include the heat dissipating fan 576 to smoothly dissipate heat from
the thermoelectric module 5711 and allow air in the treating flow channel to flow
quickly.
[0480] The air treater 570 may adjust the humidity of the second chamber 550 by circulating
and simultaneously dehumidifying air in the second chamber 550 via the dehumidifier
571. Not only is the volume of the second chamber 550 smaller than the volume of the
first chamber 130, but also the main purpose of the second chamber 550 is the adjustment
of the temperature and the humidity when displaying the laundry hung in the second
chamber 550, so that the dehumidifier 571 may be sufficient with only the thermoelectric
module 5711 unlike the heat pump unit disposed inside the auxiliary chamber 150.
[0481] The dehumidifier 571 may operate only when dehumidifying air in the second chamber
550. That is, when the humidity of air in the second chamber 550 reaches a preset
target humidity, the operation of the dehumidifier 571 may be stopped.
[0482] To this end, the door assembly 500 may include a humidity sensor 795 (see FIG. 23)
that measures the humidity of the second chamber 550. Based on the humidity measured
by the humidity sensor 795, the controller 490 may control the treating fan 575, the
heat dissipating fan 576, and the thermoelectric module 5711. When the humidity is
lower than the target humidity, the controller 490 may stop the thermoelectric module
5711 and the heat dissipating fan 576 and operate only the treating fan 575.
[0483] The humidity sensor 795 is shown as being located at a lower portion of one of both
side surfaces 552 and 553 of the second chamber 550, but the humidity sensor 795 may
be located anywhere as long as it may measure the humidity of the second chamber 550.
[0484] In addition, to allow air discharged via the second treating duct 5732 to be discharged
into the second chamber 550 with a temperature equal to or higher than a preset treatment
temperature, the air treater 570 may further include an auxiliary heater 57321 inside
the second treating duct 5732. To this end, the air treater 570 may further include
a treatment temperature sensor 799 located inside the second treating duct 5732 to
measure the temperature of discharged air. However, unlike this, the treatment temperature
sensor 799 may be located elsewhere.
[0485] The humidity sensor 795 may be a temperature/humidity sensor that may also measure
the temperature. In this case, the treatment temperature sensor 799 may be replaced
by the humidity sensor 795. Accordingly, the humidity sensor 795 may be disposed in
the second treating duct 5732 to measure the temperature and the humidity of air that
has passed through the thermoelectric heater 57115. Accordingly, rotation speeds of
the heat dissipating fan 576 and the treating fan 575 may be controlled or current
flowing in the thermoelectric module may be adjusted.
[0486] The controller 490 may control the auxiliary heater 57321 to operate when the temperature
measured via the treatment temperature sensor 799 is lower than the treatment temperature.
[0487] The treatment temperature may be the same as or different from the target temperature.
This is because the temperature of the second chamber 550 is set to the target temperature,
but the temperature of air discharged from the air treater 570 may be different therefrom.
This is because an amount of air circulating via the air circulator 560 is greater
than an amount of air circulating via the air treater 570.
[0488] To this end, the door assembly 500 may separately include temperature sensors 797
and 799 for the air circulator 560 and the air treater 570. Otherwise, the air circulator
560 and the air treater 570 may share the circulating temperature sensor 797.
[0489] Additionally, the air circulator 560 and the air treater 570 may operate independently
of the air supply 410 and the steam supply 450 required to care for the laundry hung
on the laundry support 600 of the first chamber 130. That is, the temperature and
the humidity of air in the second chamber 550 may be adjusted regardless of the first
chamber 130.
[0490] Additionally, when necessary, only one of the air circulator 560 and the air treater
570 may operate.
[0491] This is because the second chamber 550 has the purpose of display and storage, and
thus, needs to be constantly adjusted in the temperature and the humidity. To this
end, the second chamber 550 may be formed by the separate space that is separated
from the first chamber 130 and the auxiliary chamber 150, and the air circulator 560
and the air treater 570 may be connected to operate independently of the air supply
410 and the steam supply 450.
[0492] Accordingly, even when the door assembly 500 opens the first inlet 131, the air circulator
560 and the air treater 570 may operate. On the other hand, when the door assembly
500 is opened, the operations of the air supply 410 and the steam supply 450 may be
stopped. This is for safety.
[0493] That is, the air circulator 560 and the air treater 570 may operate even when the
door assembly 500 is opened.
[0494] (a) in FIG. 25 shows the shelf 580 located in the second chamber 550 to support the
goods accommodated in the second chamber 550. (b) in FIG. 25 is an example of the
shelf 580. FIG. 26 is an example of the shelf 580 disassembled.
[0495] As shown in (a) in FIG. 25, the hanger assembly 800 for hanging the laundry and the
shelf 580 for supporting the goods may be located in the second chamber 550. Because
the shelf 580 may include the plurality of shelves and be detachable from the second
chamber 550, when hanging the laundry on the hanger assembly 800, the user may separate
some of the plurality of shelves 580.
[0496] The plurality of shelves 580 may be arranged along the height direction of the door
assembly 500 at the uniform spacing. Alternatively, some of the plurality of shelves
580 may be arranged at different spacings.
[0497] (b) in FIG. 25 shows an example of the shelf 580 disposed in the second chamber 550.
A width of a cross-section of the accommodating body cut at an arbitrary vertical
level may decrease from the second inlet 512 toward the accommodating body rear surface
5105. This is to prevent a portion of the accommodating body 510 from interfering
with the first chamber 130 when the door assembly 500 is opened and closed.
[0498] The shelf 580 may include the shelf coupling portion 811 to be coupled to the shelf
mounting portion 5552 located in the second chamber rear surface 555. The shelf coupling
portion 811 may be formed to protrude from the shelf 580 toward the second chamber
rear surface 555 so as to be inserted into a hole or a groove defined in the shelf
mounting portion 5552.
[0499] Because the shelf mounting portion 5552 extends along the width direction of the
door assembly 500, the shelf coupling portion 811 may also be formed to correspond
thereto.
[0500] In one example, the shelf 580 may be coupled only to the second chamber rear surface
555 and not to both side surfaces of the second chamber 550. This is because, when
the shelf 580 is coupled to three surfaces, it may be difficult for the user to separate
or couple the shelf 580 and air circulation in the second chamber 550 may be blocked.
[0501] Accordingly, because the shelf 580 is formed in the shape of the square plate, there
may be a predetermined gap between each of both side surfaces of the second chamber
550 and each of both side surfaces of the shelf 580.
[0502] Additionally, the air circulator 560 discharges air via the air outlet 5511, which
is located at the rear portion of the second chamber top surface 551. Therefore, the
shelf may include a ventilating portion defined through the shelf 580 along the height
direction of the door assembly 500 at a rear portion of the shelf 580 for air circulation
by the air circulator 560.
[0503] The ventilating portion 584 will prevent air circulating along the height direction
of the door assembly 500 from being interrupted by the shelf 580 at the rear portion
of the second chamber 550.
[0504] That is, air flowing downward from the second chamber top surface 551 via the air
outlet 5511 may pass through the ventilating portion 584.
[0505] That is, the door assembly 500 may further include the shelf 580 detachably disposed
on the rear surface of the second chamber 550 and the ventilating portion 584 defined
through the shelf 580, and the ventilating portion 584 may be located closer to the
rear surface of the second chamber 550 than the first inlet 131, so that air discharged
via the air circulator 560 may flow via the ventilating portion 584.
[0506] Additionally, both left and right ends of the shelf 580 may not be coupled to the
second chamber 550, but may be spaced apart from both side surfaces 552 and 553 of
the second chamber 550. Air discharged from the air treater 570 may circulate via
the gap.
[0507] That is, air discharged via the bottom discharge hole 5542 located adjacent to one
of both side surfaces 552 and 553 of the second chamber 550 will be able to circulate
inside the second chamber 550 via the gap.
[0508] The shelf 580 may simply be formed in the shape of the plate. However, because the
second chamber 550 is used for displaying the laundry or the goods, the door assembly
500 may further include the lightings 587 and 590 to make the laundry or the goods
accommodated and displayed in the second chamber 550 stand out.
[0509] The lightings 587 and 590 may include the second chamber lighting 590 disposed in
the second chamber 550 and the shelf lighting 587 disposed in the shelf 580.
[0510] In other words, the door assembly 500 may further include the shelf 580 located in
the second chamber 550 to support the goods accommodated in the second chamber 550,
and the shelf 580 may include a shelf body 5811 with an open top surface, an upper
cover 5814 that is coupled to the open top surface of the body 5811 to support the
goods, and the shelf lighting 587 disposed on the shelf body 5811 to emit light.
[0511] Additionally, the shelf lighting 587 may include an upper shelf lighting 5871 that
irradiates light via the upper cover 5814 and a lower shelf lighting 5872 that irradiates
light downward of the shelf body 5811.
[0512] When the upper shelf lighting 5871 is intended to illuminate the goods disposed on
the upper cover 5814 upward, the lower shelf lighting 5872 is intended to illuminate
the goods disposed on another shelf 580 located below downward.
[0513] FIG. 26 is an exploded view of the shelf 580. The shelf 580 may include a shelf body
assembly 581 that supports the goods displayed in the second chamber 550. The shelf
body assembly 581 may include the shelf body 5811 with the open top surface and the
upper cover 5814 coupled to the open top surface of the shelf body 5811 to support
the goods.
[0514] The shelf 580 may further include a side frame 5816 and an upper frame 5815 to reinforce
strength in consideration of a weight of the goods supported by the shelf 580. The
side frame 5816 may be coupled to surround front and both side surfaces of the shelf
body 5811. The upper frame 5815 may be coupled to the open top surface of the shelf
body portion 581 to support the upper cover 5814.
[0515] The shelf 580 may further include the ventilating portion 584 for air circulating
along the height direction of the second chamber 550. The ventilating portion 584
may include a body ventilating hole 5841 located at the rear portion of the shelf
body assembly 581 and defined through the shelf body 5811 and an upper ventilating
hole 5842 defined through the upper frame 5815. When the shelf body 5811 and the upper
frame 5815 are coupled to each other, the body ventilating hole 5841 and the upper
ventilating hole 5842 will face each other.
[0516] The body ventilating hole 5841 and the upper ventilating hole 5842 may be defined
to extend along the width direction of the door assembly 500. Additionally, the body
ventilating hole 5841 and the upper ventilating hole 5842 may include a plurality
of ventilating holes and a plurality of upper ventilating holes, respectively. Even
when the body ventilation hole 5841 and the upper ventilation hole 5842 include the
plurality of ventilating holes and the plurality of upper ventilating holes, respectively,
a shape and the number of body ventilating holes 5841 will be the same as those of
upper ventilating holes 5842, and the body ventilating hole 5841 and the upper ventilating
hole 5842 will face each other.
[0517] The upper frame 5815 may include a cover installation hole 58411 defined through
the upper frame. The cover installation hole 58411 may be defined to allow light from
shelf lighting 587, which will be described later, to pass therethrough.
[0518] The cover installation hole 58411 may be located in front of the upper ventilating
hole 5842. The upper cover 5814 may be coupled to the cover installation hole 58411.
Therefore, a shape of the cover installation hole 58411 will correspond to a shape
of the upper cover 5814.
[0519] The shelf 580 may further include the shelf lighting 587 disposed on the shelf body
5811 to emit light. The shelf lighting 587 may include the upper shelf lighting 5871
for illuminating light to the goods supported on the upper cover 5814 and the lower
shelf lighting 5872 for illuminating light to the goods located below the shelf body
5811.
[0520] The upper shelf lighting 5871 is for illuminating light to the goods supported on
the upper cover 5814, and the lower shelf lighting 5872 is for illuminating light
to the goods located below the shelf 580. This is because the shelf 580 may include
the plurality of shelves and another shelf 580 may be located below one shelf 580.
[0521] To improve the display effect, it will be desirable for the upper shelf lighting
5871 to emit light via an entirety of the plate-shaped upper cover. On the other hand,
the lower shelf lighting 5872 may be formed in a linear form, so that light may be
focused only on the goods. This is because, based on the goods, spotlight lighting
is desirable from above, and soft lighting is desirable from below.
[0522] To this end, the shelf lighting 587 may include a shelf light diffuser 5873 for diffusion
and reflection of the upper shelf lighting 5871. The shelf light diffuser 5873 may
be made of a light diffusion material.
[0523] This is because using the light diffusion material may prevent the user from being
dazzled by the lighting and make light emitted from the lighting soft and subtle.
Therefore, an interior design may be better when the light diffusion material is used
than when the light diffusion material is not used.
[0524] The shelf light diffuser 5873 may be located under the upper cover 5814 and diffuse
light of the upper shelf lighting 5871 in a plate shape. Therefore, light from the
upper shelf lighting 5871 will be diffused in the form of the plate via the shelf
light diffuser 5873 and then irradiated to the goods via the upper cover 5814.
[0525] In one example, the upper cover 5814 may be made of a transparent or translucent
material to allow light to pass therethrough.
[0526] Each of the upper shelf lighting 5871 and the lower shelf lighting 5872 may include
a light-emitting diode (LED). The upper shelf lighting 5871 and the lower shelf lighting
5872 may be in the linear shape. Accordingly, the upper shelf lighting 5871 and the
lower shelf lighting 5872 may emit light with a color of one of cooldaylight, incandlelight,
and daylight colors.
[0527] The upper shelf lighting 5871 may be formed to extend along the width direction of
the door assembly 500 inside the shelf body 5811.
[0528] While the upper shelf lighting 5871 irradiates light in the form of the plate via
the shelf light diffuser 5873, the lower shelf lighting 5872 may irradiate light in
a form of a line.
[0529] The lower shelf lighting 5872 may irradiate light downward of the shelf 580. To this
end, the lower shelf lighting 5872 may be disposed under the shelf body 5811. The
shelf 580 may further include a lower shelf lighting cover 5819 to cover the lower
shelf lighting 5872.
[0530] The lower shelf lighting cover 5819 may be made of a transparent or translucent material.
[0531] The lower shelf lighting 5872 may be located in a lower front side of the shelf body
5811.
[0532] The lower shelf lighting 5872 may be located at a front side inside the shelf body
5811 and may irradiate light via a lower lighting through-hole (not shown) defined
through the shelf body 5811. In this regard, the lower shelf lighting cover 5819 may
be coupled to the lower lighting through-hole (not shown).
[0533] Accordingly, the upper shelf lighting 5871 may irradiate light forward from a rear
side of the shelf body 5811. Light emitted forward will be reflected and diffused
by the shelf light diffuser 5873, pass through the upper cover 5814, and travel upward
of the shelf 580.
[0534] On the other hand, light emitted by the lower shelf lighting 5872 will be directed
downward of the shelf 580 via the lower shelf lighting cover 5819.
[0535] The shelf 580 may include a shelf power supply 585 to supply power to the shelf lighting
587. To prevent a wire from being exposed, the shelf power supply 585 may be formed
to protrude from the rear side of the shelf 580 toward the second chamber rear surface
555.
[0536] Accordingly, the shelf power supply 585 may be located at a center of the shelf coupling
portion 811. Correspondingly, the shelf mounting portion 5552 may include a shelf
power connecting portion 55523 into which the shelf power supply 585 is inserted.
[0537] FIG. 27 is a cross-section of an accommodating body cut along a front and rear direction
of the accommodating body. The door assembly 500 may include the second chamber lighting
590 that is disposed in the second chamber 550 and illuminates the interior of the
second chamber 550. In addition to the upper lighting 591 and the lower lighting 599
described above, the second chamber lighting 590 may further include a line lighting
592 located in each of the second chamber top surface 551 and both side surfaces 553
and 554 of the second chamber 550.
[0538] That is, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may include the cabinet 110 including
the first inlet 131 defined in the front surface thereof, the first chamber 130 located
inside the cabinet 110 and accommodating the laundry therein through the first inlet
131, the auxiliary chamber 150 located at the lower side inside the cabinet 110 to
define the installation space separated from the first chamber 130, and the door assembly
500 that is coupled to the cabinet 110 to open and close the first inlet 131.
[0539] In addition, the door assembly 500 may include the accommodating body 510 including
the second inlet 512 defined in the front surface thereof, the accommodating housing
559 disposed inside the accommodating body 510, in communication with the outside
via the second inlet 512, and forming the second chamber 550 separated from the first
chamber 130 and the auxiliary chamber 150, and the line lighting 592 disposed in the
accommodating housing 559 in parallel with the second inlet 512 to illuminate the
second chamber 550.
[0540] As described above, since the accommodating housing 559 may form the second chamber
550, so that the accommodating housing 559 may include the second chamber top surface
551 that forms the top surface of the second chamber 550, the second chamber left
side surface 552 and the second chamber right side surface 553 extending downward
from both left and right ends of the second chamber top surface 551 to form the left
and right side surfaces of the second chamber 550, respectively, and the second chamber
rear surface 555 connected to the second chamber top surface 551, the second chamber
left side surface 552, and the second chamber right side surface 553 to form the rear
surface of the second chamber 550.
[0541] The line lighting 592 may be disposed along a perimeter of the second chamber 550
in a form of a line. That is, the line lighting 592 may be disposed along each of
the second chamber top surface 551, the second chamber left side surface 552, and
the second chamber right side surface 553.
[0542] The line lighting 592 may be disposed along the width direction of the door assembly
500 in the second chamber top surface 551. The line lighting 592 may be disposed along
the height direction of the door assembly 500 in each of the second chamber left side
surface 552 and the second chamber right side surface 553.
[0543] The line lighting 592 disposed along the width direction of the door assembly 500
in the second chamber top surface 551 may be disposed along the height direction of
the door assembly 500 in each of the second chamber left side surface 552 and the
second chamber right side surface 553.
[0544] The line lighting 592 may be arranged in two lines along the second chamber top surface
551, the second chamber left side surface 552, and the second chamber right side surface
553. The line lighting 592 may include a front line lighting 5921 located at the front
side of the second chamber 550 and a rear line lighting 5925 located at the rear of
the front line lighting 5921 in the second chamber 550.
[0545] That is, the line lighting 592 may include the front line lighting 5921 located closer
to the second inlet 512 than the second chamber rear surface 555, and the rear line
lighting 5925 located closer to the second chamber rear surface 555 than the second
inlet 512.
[0546] The upper lighting 591 may be located in the second chamber top surface 551 between
the front line lighting 5921 and the rear line lighting 5925.
[0547] The rear line lighting 5925 may be located between the front line lighting 5921 and
the second chamber rear surface 555.
[0548] The front line lighting 5921 and the rear line lighting 5925, like the shelf lighting
587, the upper lighting 591, and the lower lighting 599, may change color depending
on selection of the user.
[0549] The front line lighting 5921 may emit light with a color of one of cooldaylight,
incandlelight, and daylight colors. Rather than always emitting light with the color
of only one of cooldaylight, incandlelight, and daylight colors, the front line lighting
5921 may emit any color via color conversion. Additionally, the front line lighting
5921 may emit light of an RGB color. Here, the RGB color refers to a color created
using trichromacy alone or in combination. This may be implemented by the LED.
[0550] Likewise, the rear line lighting 5925 may also emit light with cooldaylight, incandlelight,
daylight, and RGB colors.
[0551] When the front line lighting 5921 plays a role of key lighting that creates an atmosphere
of the second chamber 550, the rear line lighting 5925 may play a role of back lighting
that further enhances the atmosphere created by the key lighting at the rear side
of the second chamber 550.
[0552] Accordingly, the user will be able to change the color of the line lighting 592 to
create a desired atmosphere to make the goods stand out in the second chamber. For
example, the controller 490 may create various atmospheres using the line lighting
592, the shelf lighting 587, the upper lighting 591, and the lower lighting 599 based
on the selection of the user. This is because the controller 490 is able to change
intensities and colors (or wavelengths) of the line lighting 592, the shelf lighting
587, the upper lighting 591, and the lower lighting 599.
[0553] Additionally, the user may adjust intensities and colors (or wavelengths) of light
emitted from the line lighting 592, the shelf lighting 587, the upper lighting 591,
and the lower lighting 599 to suit preference thereof.
[0554] FIG. 28 shows a location where the line lighting 592 is installed. When the door
assembly 500 is cut at an arbitrary vertical level, the door assembly 500 may include
a separate space defined between the accommodating body 510 and the accommodating
housing 559. In the separate space, mechanical devices, wire devices, and the like
disposed for the second chamber may be disposed.
[0555] The second chamber left side surface 552 and the second chamber right side surface
553 may be inclined along the front and rear direction of the door assembly 500. Accordingly,
a width between the second chamber left side surface 552 and the second chamber right
side surface 553 may decrease from the second inlet 512 to the second chamber rear
surface 555.
[0556] The second chamber left side surface 552 may include a first left side surface 5521
and a second left side surface 5522. The second chamber left side surface 552 may
further include a left connecting surface 5523 connecting the first left side surface
5521 with the second left side surface 5522. The left connecting surface 5523 may
be formed to be bent from one end of the first left side surface 5521 toward the accommodating
body left side surface and may be connected to one end of the second left side surface
5522.
[0557] The second chamber right side surface 553 may include a first right side surface
5531 and a second right side surface 5532. The second chamber right side surface 553
may further include a right connecting surface 5533 connecting the first right side
surface 5531 with the second right side surface 5532. The right connecting surface
5533 may be formed to be bent from one end of the first right side surface 5531 toward
the accommodating body right side surface and may be connected to one end of the second
left side surface 5522.
[0558] The front line lighting 5921 may include a first front line lighting 59211 installed
in the second chamber top surface 551, a second front line lighting 59213 installed
in the second chamber left side surface 552, and a third front line lighting 59215
installed in the second chamber right side surface 553.
[0559] In other words, the front line lighting 5921 may include the first front line lighting
59211 disposed along the width direction of the door assembly 500 in the second chamber
top surface 551, the second front line lighting 59213 disposed along the height direction
of the door assembly 500 in the second chamber left side surface 552, and the third
front line lighting 59215 disposed along the height direction of the door assembly
500 in the second chamber right side surface 553.
[0560] The second front line lighting 59213 and the third front line lighting 59215 may
be installed in the first left side surface 5521 and first right side surface 5531,
respectively. Further, a second rear line lighting 59253 and a third rear line lighting
59255 may be installed in the left connecting surface 5523 and the right connecting
surface 5533, respectively.
[0561] The first left side surface 5521 may include a front left installation portion 55251
defined along the height direction in the first left side surface 5521. The front
left installation portion 55251 may be defined in a form of a groove or a hole, so
that the second front line lighting 59213 may be inserted into the front left installation
portion 55251.
[0562] The left connecting surface 5523 may include a rear left installation portion 55252
defined along the height direction in the left connecting surface 5523. The rear left
installation portion 55252 may be defined in a form of a groove or a hole, so that
the second rear line lighting 59253 may be inserted into the rear left installation
portion 55252.
[0563] The first right side surface 5531 may include a front right installation portion
55351 defined along the height direction in the first right side surface 5531. The
front right installation portion 55351 may be defined in a form of a groove or a hole,
so that the third front line lighting 59215 may be inserted into the front right installation
portion 55351.
[0564] The right connecting surface 5533 may include a rear right installation portion 55352
defined along the height direction in the right connecting surface 5533. The rear
right installation portion 55352 may be defined in a form of a groove or a hole, so
that the third rear line lighting 59253 may be inserted into the rear left installation
portion 55252.
[0565] The first front line lighting 59211 and a first rear line lighting 59251 may be inserted
into a front upper installation portion 5515 and a rear upper installation portion
5515 defined in the second chamber top surface 551, respectively. The front upper
installation portion 5515 and the rear upper installation portion 5515 may also be
defined in a form of a hole or a groove.
[0566] The front line lighting 5921 and the rear line lighting 5925 may illuminate different
areas of the second chamber 550.
[0567] Considering an arrangement structure of the front line lighting 5921 and the rear
line lighting 5925, the first front line lighting 59211 may irradiate light downward
from the front side of the second chamber top surface 551. The second front line lighting
59213 may irradiate light from the first left side surface 5521 toward the first right
side surface 5531 and the door 530 of the second chamber. The third front line lighting
59215 may irradiate light from the first right side surface 5531 toward the first
left side surface 5521 and the door 530 of the second chamber. This is because the
first left side surface 5521 and the first right side surface 5531 are constructed
to be inclined.
[0568] The rear line lighting 5925 may include the first rear line lighting 59251 disposed
along the width direction of the door assembly 500 in the second chamber top surface
551, the second rear line lighting 59253 disposed along the height direction of the
door assembly 500 in the second chamber left side surface 552, and the third rear
line lighting 59255 disposed along the height direction of the door assembly 500 in
the second chamber right side surface 553.
[0569] The first rear line lighting 59251 may irradiate light downward from the rear side
of the second chamber top surface 551. The second rear line lighting 59253 may irradiate
light from the left connecting surface 5523 toward the second chamber rear surface
555. The third rear line lighting 59255 may irradiate light from the right connecting
surface 5533 toward the second chamber rear surface 555. This is because, as the left
connecting surface 5523 and the right connecting surface 5533 are bent toward the
accommodating body from the first left side surface 5521 and the first right side
surface 5531, respectively, the left connecting surface 5523 and the right connecting
surface 5533 face the second chamber rear surface 555 at an angle.
[0570] (a) in FIG. 29 is an example of the upper lighting 591 and front line lighting 5921.
(b) in FIG. 29 is an example of the lower lighting 599.
[0571] The upper lighting 591 may be disposed in the lighting installation hole 5512 defined
through the second chamber top surface 551. The lighting installation hole 5512 may
include a plurality of lighting installation holes, and the upper lighting 591 may
also include a plurality of upper lightings accordingly. The upper lighting 591 may
illuminate the laundry hung on the hanger mounting portion 5554.
[0572] The upper lighting 591 may further include an upper lighting cover 5911 to prevent
moisture or dust from entering the upper lighting 591.
[0573] (a) in FIG. 29 shows an example of the front line lighting 5921. The front line lighting
5921 may include the first front line lighting 59211 disposed in the second chamber
top surface 551, and the second front line lighting 59213 and the third front line
lighting 59215 disposed in both side surfaces of the second chamber 550, respectively.
[0574] The first front line lighting 59211 may be formed to extend along the width direction
of the door assembly 500. The second front line lighting 59213 and the third front
line lighting 59215 may be formed to extend along the height direction of the door
assembly 500.
[0575] The rear line lighting 5925 may be located at the rear of the upper lighting 591.
The rear line lighting 5925 may include the first front line lighting 59211 disposed
in the second chamber top surface 551, and the second front line lighting 59213 and
the third front line lighting 59215 disposed in both side surfaces of the second chamber
550, respectively.
[0576] Referring to (b) in FIG. 29, the lower lighting 599 may be formed in a shape of a
plate. That is, the door assembly 500 may further include the lower lighting 599 that
irradiates light upward from the second chamber bottom surface 554 toward the second
chamber 550.
[0577] The lower lighting 599 may illuminate light in a form of the plate onto the bottom
surface of the second chamber 550. To this end, the lower lighting 599 may include
a light diffuser made of the light diffusion material, similar to the upper shelf
lighting 5871 of the shelf lighting 587.
[0578] The door assembly 500 may have the lower lighting 599 that is located in the second
chamber bottom surface 554 and emits light upward. This is to irradiate light to the
goods to be disposed on the second chamber bottom surface 554. Because the second
chamber bottom surface 554 includes the bottom discharge hole 5542 and the bottom
suction hole 5541, the lower lighting 599 may be formed in the shape of the plate
in a remaining area excluding those.
[0579] The lower lighting 599 and the upper lighting 591 may emit light with cooldaylight,
incandlelight, and daylight colors.
[0580] FIG. 30 is an example of the first rear line lighting 59251 and the third rear line
lighting 59255 of the rear line lighting 5925. The first rear line lighting 59251
may be located between the upper lighting 591 and the air outlet 5511 in the second
chamber top surface 551. The third rear line lighting 59255 may be located in the
right connecting surface 5533 and be directed in an opposite direction of the second
inlet 512. The second rear line lighting 59253 may also be located in the left connecting
surface 5523 and be directed in the opposite direction of the second inlet 512.
[0581] FIG. 31 shows an example of the front line lighting 5921 and the rear line lighting
5925 formed in a linear form.
[0582] The front line lighting 5921 may include the first front line lighting 59211 installed
in the second chamber top surface 551, the second front line lighting 59213 installed
in the first left side surface 5521, and the third front line lighting 59215 installed
in the first right side surface 5531. The first front line lighting 59211 will be
formed to extend along the width direction of the door assembly 500, and the second
front line lighting 59213 and the third front line lighting 59215 will be formed to
extend along the height direction of the door assembly 500.
[0583] The rear line lighting 5925 may include the first rear line lighting 59251 installed
in the second chamber top surface 551, the second rear line lighting 59253 installed
in the second chamber left side surface 552, and the third rear line lighting 59255
installed in the second chamber right side surface 553. The first rear line lighting
59251 will be formed to extend along the width direction of the door assembly 500,
and the second rear line lighting 59253 and the third rear line lighting 59255 will
be formed to extend along the height direction of the door assembly 500.
[0584] The first rear line lighting 59251 will be located between the upper lighting 591
and the air outlet 5511. The second chamber top surface 551 may further include a
rear upper installation portion 55152 located between the lighting installation hole
5512 and the air outlet 5511 and into which the first rear line lighting 59251 is
inserted.
[0585] The first shelf line lighting may be located between the upper lighting 591 and the
second inlet 512. The second chamber top surface 551 may further include a front upper
installation portion 55151 located between the lighting installation hole 5512 and
the second inlet 512 and into which the first front line lighting 59211 is inserted.
[0586] When the line lighting 592 irradiates light toward the second chamber 550, heat is
generated, so that it is necessary to dissipate the heat generated by the line lighting
592. Additionally, air in the second chamber 550 may be hot or contain a lot of moisture.
Therefore, it is necessary to protect the line lighting 592 from hot air or moisture.
[0587] To this end, the line lighting 592 may be equipped with a protective cover and a
heat dissipating structure. FIG. 31 shows that the front line lighting 5921 and the
rear line lighting 5925 have different types of protective covers and heat dissipating
structures, but alternatively, they may have the same type of protective cover and
heat dissipating structure.
[0588] (a) to (c) in FIG. 32 show an example of a protective cover and heat dissipating
and moisture proof structures disposed on the line lighting 592 when the line lighting
592 is inserted into the accommodating housing 559 in a line lighting installation
portion 5905 defined in the second chamber.
[0589] Referring to (a) to (c) in FIG. 32, the line lighting 592 may include a linear heat
dissipating body 5935 including an insertion hole 59352 defined in one surface thereof,
an LED assembly 5936 inserted into the heat dissipating body, and a protective cover
5939 coupled to the insertion hole 59352 to protect the LED assembly 5936.
[0590] The heat dissipating body 5935 may be formed in a shape of a long line in one direction
and may have a U-shaped or channel-shaped cross-section.
[0591] The protective cover 5939 may be made of the light diffusion material. Therefore,
the protective cover 5939 may function as a light diffuser. Additionally, the protective
cover 5939 may be made of a translucent or transparent material. The protective cover
5929 may be hooked to the heat dissipating body 5935.
[0592] Referring to (b) in FIG. 32, when the heat dissipating body 5935 and the protective
cover 5939 are coupled to each other, both ends of the heat dissipating body are in
communication with the outside. To prevent this, the line lighting 592 may further
include an end cover 5931 coupled to each of both ends of the line lighting 592.
[0593] The heat dissipating body 5935 may be made of aluminum, which is not only resistant
to moisture but also has effective heat transfer performance.
[0594] Referring to (c) in FIG. 32, the line lighting 592 may be inserted and coupled into
an upper installation portion 5515, a left installation portion 5525, and a right
installation portion 5535 defined in the second chamber 550. The heat dissipating
body 5935 may further include a body fastening hole 59351 defined through one surface
of the heat dissipating body 5935 in a direction opposite to the insertion hole.
[0595] The line lighting 592 may be coupled to an inner surface of the accommodating housing
559 by a fastening member 5937 via the body fastening hole 59351.
[0596] That is, the line lighting 592 may be coupled to each of the second chamber top surface
551, the second chamber left side surface 552, and the second chamber right side surface
553 via the body fastening hole 59351 using the fastening member 5937.
[0597] The body fastening hole 59351 may include a plurality of body fastening holes.
[0598] The door assembly 500 may further include the line lighting installation portion
5905 defined in parallel with the second inlet 512 as a portion of the inner surface
of the accommodating housing 559 is recessed toward the accommodating body 510, and
into which the protective cover 5939 is inserted.
[0599] In other words, the door assembly 500 may include the line lighting installation
portion 5905 defined along the second chamber top surface 551 and both side surfaces
of the second chamber 550.
[0600] Specifically, the line lighting installation portion 5905 may include the upper installation
portion 5515 located in the second chamber top surface 551, the left installation
portion 5525 located in the second chamber left side surface 552, and the right installation
portion 5535 located in the second chamber right side surface 553. The line lighting
installation portion 5905 may have a groove shape or a hole shape.
[0601] The upper installation portion 5515 may include the front upper installation portion
5515 and the rear upper installation portion 5515. The left installation portion 5525
may include the front left installation portion 55251 and the rear left installation
portion 55252. Additionally, the right installation portion 5535 may include the front
right installation portion 55351 and the rear right installation portion 55352.
[0602] The LED assembly 5936 may include an LED 59362 that emits light, and a printed circuit
board (PCB) 59361 that is coupled to the LED 59362 to control the LED 59362. The LED
59362 may further include a heat transfer member 59363 that transfers heat generated
from the LED 59362 and the PCB 59361 to the heat dissipating body 5935.
[0603] In one example, the line lighting 592 may further include a body sealing member 5932
disposed between the protective cover 5939 and the heat dissipating body 5935 to prevent
penetration of moisture and foreign substances. That is, the body sealing member 5932
may be located between the protective cover 5939 and the heat dissipating body 5935
and prevent moisture or foreign substances from the second chamber 550 from penetrating
into the heat dissipating body 5935.
[0604] In addition, an area where the heat dissipating body 5935 is coupled to the line
lighting installation portion 5905 by the fastening member 5937 may further include
a fastening sealing member 59371 to prevent moisture and foreign substances from penetrating.
[0605] (a) to (c) in FIG. 33 show another example of a protective cover 5949 and heat dissipating
and moisture proof structures disposed on the line lighting 592 when the line lighting
592 is inserted into the line lighting installation portion 5905 defined in the second
chamber from the outside of the accommodating housing 559.
[0606] FIG. 32 shows an example in which the line lighting installation portion 5905 is
defined in the shape of the groove, while FIG. 33 shows another example in which the
line lighting installation portion 5905 is defined in the shape of the hole. Accordingly,
the line lighting 592 in the type to be inserted shown in FIG. 32 may be coupled to
the line lighting installation portion 5905 inside the accommodating housing 559.
On the other hand, the line lighting 592 in the type to be fixed shown in FIG. 33
may be coupled to the line lighting installation portion 5905 in the form of the hole
in communication with the inside of the second chamber 550 on the outside of the accommodating
housing 559. That is, the line lighting 592 shown in FIG. 32 may be coupled to the
inner surface of the accommodating housing 559 forming the second chamber 550, while
the line lighting 592 shown in FIG. 33 may be coupled to an outer surface of the accommodating
housing 559 forming the second chamber 550 and partially inserted into the second
chamber 550.
[0607] Referring to (a) in FIG. 33, the line lighting 592 may include a plate-shaped heat
dissipating body 5945 including a recessed portion 59452 on one surface, an LED assembly
5946 inserted into the heat dissipating body, and the protective cover 5949 that is
coupled to the heat dissipating body 5945 and protects the LED assembly 5946.
[0608] The heat dissipating body 5945 may be formed to extend in one direction, and the
recessed portion 59452 may be recessed in a direction toward the accommodating body
510 when the heat dissipating body 5945 is coupled to the accommodating housing 559.
[0609] The protective cover 5949 may be formed in an angled U-shape or a channel shape and
may define a space in which the LED assembly 5946 may be accommodated when coupled
to the plate-shaped heat dissipating body 5945. That is, the protective cover 5949
may cover the LED assembly 5946.
[0610] The protective cover 5949 may be made of the light diffusion material.
[0611] The protective cover 5949 may function as a light diffuser. Additionally, the protective
cover 5949 may be made of a translucent or transparent material. The protective cover
5929 may be formed in the U-shape or the channel shape and may be coupled to the heat
dissipating body 5935.
[0612] The heat dissipating body 5945 may include a body fastening hole 59451 defined therethrough
along a perimeter of the recessed portion 59452. The heat dissipating body 5945 may
be made of aluminum, which is not only resistant to moisture but also has effective
heat transfer performance.
[0613] The body fastening hole 59451 may be include a plurality of body fastening holes.
[0614] Referring to (b) in FIG. 33, the LED assembly 5946 and the protective cover 5949
may be located in the recessed portion 59452 and coupled to the heat dissipating body
5945. In addition, a body sealing member 5942 to prevent penetration of moisture and
foreign substances when the heat dissipating body 5945 is coupled to the line lighting
installation portion 5905 may be further included along a perimeter of the protective
cover 5949.
[0615] The protective cover 5949 may have a stepped top surface that emits light. The body
sealing member 5942 may be located on the stepped surface formed around the top surface
of the protective cover 5949. In this regard, while the body sealing member 5942 is
coupled to the outer surface of the accommodating housing 559, a portion of the top
surface of the protective cover 5949 may be inserted into the second chamber 550.
[0616] The line lighting installation portion 5905 may be defined through the inner surface
of the accommodating housing 559 in parallel with the second inlet 512 along the inner
surface of the accommodating housing 559 such that the protective cover 5949 is inserted
thereinto. Accordingly, in the line lighting 592, when the plate-shaped heat dissipating
body 5945 is coupled to the outer surface of the accommodating housing 559, the portion
of the top surface of the protective cover 5949 may be inserted into the second chamber.
[0617] The heat dissipating body 5945 may be coupled to the line lighting installation portion
5905 using a fastening member 5947. When the protective cover 5949 is inserted into
the second chamber 550 via the line lighting installation portion 5905, the protective
cover 5949 and the inner surface of the accommodating housing 559 may form a smooth
surface without a step.
[0618] Referring to (b) and (c) in FIG. 33, the line lighting 592 may be inserted into and
coupled to the line lighting installation portion 5905 defined in the second chamber
550.
[0619] The line lighting installation portion 5905 may include the upper installation portion
5515 located in the second chamber top surface 551, the left installation portion
5525 located in the second chamber left side surface 552, and the right installation
portion 5535 located in the second chamber right side surface 553.
[0620] The upper installation portion 5515 may include the front upper installation portion
5515 and the rear upper installation portion 5515. The left installation portion 5525
may include the front left installation portion 55251 and the rear left installation
portion 55252. Additionally, the right installation portion 5535 may include the front
right installation portion 55351 and the rear right installation portion 55352.
[0621] Accordingly, the line lighting 592 may be coupled to the second chamber top surface
551, the second chamber left side surface 552, and the second chamber right side surface
553 via the body fastening hole 59451 using a fastening member 5947.
[0622] The LED assembly 5946 may include an LED 59462 that emits light, and a printed circuit
board (PCB) 59361 that is coupled to the LED 59462 to control the LED 59462. The LED
59462 may further include a heat transfer member 59463 that transfers heat generated
from the LED 59462 and the PCB 59461 to the heat dissipating body 5945.
[0623] The accommodating space lighting 590 may include the upper lighting 591, the lower
lighting 599, and the line lighting 592 shown in FIGS. 25 to 31. Further, the line
lighting 592 may include the front line lighting 5921 and the rear line lighting 5925.
Again, the front line lighting 5921 may include the first front line lighting 59211
located in an accommodating space top surface 551, and the second front line lighting
59213 and the third front line lighting 59215 located in both side surfaces 552 and
553 of the accommodating space. The rear line lighting 5925 may also include the first
rear line lighting 59251 located in the accommodating space top surface 551, and the
second rear line lighting 59253 and the third rear line lighting 59255 located in
both side surfaces 552 and 553 of the accommodating space.
[0624] The front line lighting 5921 may be located closer to the second inlet 512 than the
rear line lighting 5925. Additionally, the upper lighting 591 may be located between
the front line lighting 5921 and the rear line lighting 5925.
[0625] Each of the accommodating space lighting 590 and the shelf lighting 587 may include
a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) to emit light. The controller 490 may
change the intensity and color of light by controlling the accommodating space lighting
590 and the shelf lighting 587 based on preference of the user and the type of goods
stored in the accommodating space 550.
[0626] To this end, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may further include the inputter/outputter
700 that receives the user input and outputs information to the user to control the
lightings 587 and 690.
[0627] (a) in FIG. 34 shows an example of the inputter/outputter 700. In particular, the
inputter/outputter 700 may be located in a front surface of the accommodating door
530. Approximately, the inputter/outputter 700 may be located in a middle area along
the height direction of the door assembly 500 in the front surface of the accommodating
door 530.
[0628] In particular, the inputter/outputter 700 may be formed to extend in the accommodating
door window 531 along the height direction of the door assembly 500. Specifically,
the inputter/outputter 700 may be located on the accommodating door frame 533. However,
this is only an example, and as long as it is easy for the user to access the inputter/outputter
700, the inputter/outputter 700 may be located anywhere in the front surface of the
accommodating door 530.
[0629] The inputter/outputter 700 may sense the input (or an input command) of the user
when the user touches a specified location of the inputter/outputter 700. The input
of the user may refer to sensing the user's touch and generating an electrical signal
corresponding to the input to be transmitted to the controller 490.
[0630] That is, as the user touches a touch panel disposed on a front surface of the inputter/outputter
700, what the user has selected may be sensed and the user's input may be transmitted
to the controller 490. The controller 490 may operate the laundry treating apparatus
100 using the input information. Further, information about processing results thereof
or a current state may be displayed via the inputter/outputter 700.
[0631] In contrast, the inputter/outputter 700 may be equipped with a touch display, and
the user's input may be sensed as an icon displayed on the display is touched. Additionally,
the controller 490 may output necessary information on the display.
[0632] Additionally, the display may be made of a transparent or translucent material and
may be disposed on the accommodating door window 531.
[0633] (a) in FIG. 34 shows icons that may be displayed on the inputter/outputter 700. As
described above, the user may cause the laundry treating apparatus 100 to perform
an operation desired by the user by touching a location of the icon.
[0634] (a) in FIG. 34 shows locations of a fingerprint sensor 792, an NFC reader 796, and
a proximity sensor 791 shown in FIG. 1.
[0635] The door assembly 500 may further include the proximity sensor 791 that is disposed
in the door assembly 500 and senses whether the user is approaching or moving away.
The proximity sensor 791 may be implemented in one of an electromagnetic induction
scheme, a magnetic scheme, and an optical scheme.
[0636] The proximity sensor 791 may be located at a preset first vertical level along the
height direction of the door assembly 500. The first vertical level may approximately
overlap an area where the inputter/outputter 700 is located. Accordingly, (a) in FIG.
34 shows that the proximity sensor 791 is located invisible in the inputter/outputter.
[0637] The vertical level of the proximity sensor 791 may be set considering safety. In
other words, when the proximity sensor 791 reacts in the same way even when children
or pets approach, there may be a risk of a safety accident. To prevent this, the first
vertical level may be set to 1400mm, taking into account an average height of children
in the third grade of elementary school.
[0638] The proximity sensor 791 may sense that the user is located within a preset sensing
area. Accordingly, the proximity sensor 791 may sense the user approaching within
the sensing area or the user leaving the sensing area.
[0639] Additionally, the proximity sensor 791 may be set to have different sensing areas
when the user approaches and when the user moves away.
[0640] The door assembly 500 may further include the fingerprint sensor 792 located on the
inputter/outputter 700 to recognize a fingerprint of the user. The controller 490
may recognize the user's fingerprint via the fingerprint sensor 792 and then allow
only a registered user to open the accommodating door 530.
[0641] For example, the accommodating door 530 may further include a door hook (not shown)
located on an inner surface of the accommodating door 530, and the accommodating body
510 may include a hook locking device (not shown) coupled to the door hook. The controller
490 will be able to allow only the user registered user via the fingerprint sensor
792 to release the hook locking device and open the accommodating door 530.
[0642] The controller 490 may open the accommodating door 530 only when the user touches
the fingerprint sensor 792 for a preset fingerprint recognition time or more. This
is to prevent the hook lock device from being released whenever there is an unnecessary
touch. For example, the fingerprint recognition time may be set to 3 seconds. The
controller 490 may be programmed to recognize that the user has an intention to access
the accommodating space 550 only when the user touches the fingerprint sensor for
3 seconds or more.
[0643] Additionally, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may allow the accommodating door
530 to be opened using a registered card or tag instead of the fingerprint sensor
792. To this end, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may further include the NFC reader
796 located on the inputter/outputter 700 to recognize the registered card or tag.
[0644] The card or tag may exchange information with the NFC reader 796 using a near field
communication (NFC) scheme. The card may be formed in various shapes as well as square.
When a chip capable of NFC communication is built inside to enable communication with
the NFC reader 796, the card and the tag may be formed in any shape.
[0645] (a) in FIG. 34 shows that the NFC reader 796 is located at an upper portion of the
inputter/outputter 700 and the fingerprint sensor is located below the NFC reader
796, but this is only an example.
[0646] The fingerprint sensor 792 may be located at a location overlapping an accommodating
space indicator 719, which is displayed such that the user may select the accommodating
space 550. This is to utilize an area occupied by the inputter/outputter 700 more
efficiently. Therefore, when the user touches an accommodating space selector 711
for the fingerprint recognition time or longer, the controller 490 will release a
locked state of the accommodating door 530.
[0647] When describing the inputter/outputter 700 using (a) in FIG. 34, the inputter/outputter
700 may include a first chamber inputter/outputter 780 that receives a command related
to the first chamber 130 and notifies that the command related to the first chamber
130 has been input, and an accommodating space inputter/outputter 710 that receives
a command related to the accommodating space 550 and notifies that the command related
to the accommodating space 550 has been input.
[0648] (a) in FIG. 34 displays the icons formed as various icons, but this is only an example,
and the icons may be displayed in other shapes. In addition, the user does not necessarily
have to touch the icon to input a desired input. When the user touches an area adjacent
to an area where the icon is located, the controller 490 may determine that a command
or a menu corresponding to the icon has been selected.
[0649] However, because sensing areas of a plurality of sub-inputters/outputters equipped
in the inputter/outputter should not overlap each other, unless otherwise specified
herein, the sub-inputters/outputters may be viewed as occupying respective areas that
do not overlap each other.
[0650] The first chamber inputter/outputter 780 may include a menu that the user may select
to care for the laundry in the first chamber 130. In particular, the first chamber
inputter/outputter 780 may include a first chamber indicator 789 indicating that the
first chamber inputter/outputter 780 is an inputter/outputter related to the first
chamber 130, a first chamber selector 781 that senses a user's touch to select the
first chamber 130, and a door assembly opening inputter 785 for opening the door assembly
500.
[0651] The accommodating space inputter/outputter 710 may include a menu that the user may
select to care for and store the goods, including the laundry, in the accommodating
space 550.
[0652] The accommodating space inputter/outputter 710 may include the accommodating space
indicator 719 indicating that the accommodating space inputter/outputter 710 is an
inputter/outputter related to the accommodating space 550, and the accommodating space
selector 711 that senses a user's touch to select the accommodating space 550.
[0653] In addition, the accommodating space inputter/outputter 710 may include a mode interface
770 that may select a treatment mode for caring for the laundry or the goods by operating
the air circulator 560, the air treater 570, and the hanger assembly 800, a lighting
mode that adjusts the intensities and the colors of light of the accommodating space
lighting 590 and the shelf lighting 587, and a storage mode that stores the laundry
or the goods accommodated in the accommodating space at a preset storage temperature
and a preset storage humidity.
[0654] Specifically, the mode interface 770 may include a treatment mode inputter 714 that
senses selection of the treatment mode, and a treatment mode outputter 713 that indicates
that the treatment mode has been selected. When the user touches the treatment mode
inputter 714, the controller 490 may notify the user that the treatment mode has been
selected via the treatment mode outputter 713. For example, the treatment mode outputter
713 may emit light.
[0655] The mode interface 770 may further include a lighting mode inputter 718 that senses
selection of the lighting mode and a lighting mode outputter 717 that indicates that
the lighting mode has been selected. When the user touches the lighting mode inputter
718, the controller 490 may notify the user that the lighting mode has been selected
via the lighting mode outputter 717. For example, the lighting mode outputter 717
may emit light.
[0656] Additionally, the mode interface 770 may further include a storage mode inputter
716 that senses selection of the storage mode and a storage mode outputter 715 that
indicates that the storage mode has been selected. When the user touches the storage
mode inputter 716, the controller 490 may notify the user that the storage mode has
been selected via the storage mode outputter 715. For example, the storage mode outputter
715 may emit light.
[0657] Accordingly, the controller 490 may sense a command input via the mode interface
770 and perform the treatment mode, the lighting mode, and the storage mode.
[0658] In addition, the accommodating space inputter/outputter 710 may further include an
initiation inputter 712 for selecting one of the treatment mode, the lighting mode,
and the storage mode and then initiating the selected mode.
[0659] In one example, to prevent confusion of the user, the first chamber inputter/outputter
780 and the accommodating space inputter/outputter 710 may be displayed separately
from each other. To this end, the inputter/outputter 700 may include a notifier 760
disposed between the first chamber inputter/outputter 780 and the accommodating space
inputter/outputter 710.
[0660] The notifier 760 may display a menu selected in the first chamber or a detailed selection
menu related to the menu selected in the mode interface 770.
[0661] To this end, the inputter/outputter 700 may further include a movement selector 765
for changing the detailed menu output on the notifier 760. The movement selector 765
may include a first movement selector 7651 and a second movement selector 7652 for
changing the detailed menu. The first movement selector 7651 and the second movement
selector 7652 may change the detailed menus output on the notifier 760 so as to appear
in opposite orders. Accordingly, the user will be able to quickly find a desired detailed
menu via the first movement selector 7651 and the second movement selector 7652.
[0662] In addition, the inputter/outputter 700 may further include a first division indicator
7451 and a second division indicator 7452 to more clearly separate the first chamber
inputter/outputter 780 and the accommodating space inputter/outputter 710 from each
other.
[0663] (b) in FIG. 34 shows an example of information displayed on the notifier 760 when
the user presses the treatment mode inputter 714. The treatment mode is for caring
for the laundry or the goods accommodated in the accommodating space, so that air
in the accommodating space 550 may be circulated via the air circulator 560, the air
treater 570, and the hanger assembly 800, hot air or steam may be supplied to the
accommodating space 550, or air in the accommodating space 550 may be dehumidified.
[0664] Additionally, considering the material of the laundry or the goods accommodated,
the laundry treating apparatus 100 may provide various treatment modes to the user.
Detailed menus related to the various treatment modes will be displayed in the notifier
760, and the user will be able to select one of them.
[0665] (c) in FIG. 34 shows an example of information displayed on the notifier 760 when
the user presses the storage mode inputter 716. As with the treatment mode, considering
the material of the laundry or the goods accommodated, the laundry treating apparatus
100 may provide various treatment modes to the user. Detailed menus related to the
various treatment modes will be displayed in the notifier 760, and the user will be
able to select one of them.
[0666] (d) in FIG. 34 shows an example of information displayed on the notifier 760 when
the user presses the lighting mode inputter 718. As described above, the controller
490 may control the accommodating space lighting 590 and the shelf lighting 587 based
on the preference of the user and the type of goods stored in the accommodating space
550 to change the intensity and the color of light. To this end, various lighting
modes may be displayed on the notifier 760, and the user may select one of the various
lighting modes.
[0667] In one example, an activated sub-inputter/outputter among the various sub-inputters/outputters
of the inputter/outputter 700 may vary depending on a situation. (a) in FIG. 35 shows
an example of the inputter/outputter 700 when the user is far away from the laundry
treating apparatus 100. When the user is far away, to reduce energy consumption of
the laundry treating apparatus 100, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may deactivate
the inputter/outputter 700.
[0668] Herein, the term `activated' may mean a state in which a specific inputter/outputter
is able to receive the user input. This may mean that the controller 490 enables the
user to recognize the specific inputter/outputter by turning light on the specific
inputter/outputter or an icon representing the specific inputter/outputter.
[0669] Conversely, herein, a term 'deactivated' may mean a state of not responding even
when the user touches a specific inputter/outputter. The controller 490 may prevent
the user from selecting the specific inputter/outputter by turning off light on the
specific inputter/outputter or an icon representing the specific inputter/outputter.
[0670] When the user is far away, the controller 490 may determine that no new input or
command will be received by the user and deactivate the inputter/outputter. This may
be called a standby mode. Even in the standby mode, the controller 490 may sense the
user's approach using the proximity sensor 791.
[0671] (b) in FIG. 35 shows an example of the inputter/outputter 700 when the user approaches
to be within a preset sensing area of the proximity sensor 791.
[0672] When the proximity sensor 791 senses that the user has approached to be within the
sensing area, the controller 490 is able to expect the user to select the first chamber
130 or the accommodating space 550, so that the accommodating space indicator 719,
the accommodating space selector 711, the first chamber indicator 789, the first chamber
selector 781, and the door assembly opening inputter 785 may be activated.
[0673] Additionally, the controller 490 will be able to recognize the user's fingerprint
via the fingerprint sensor 792 located overlapping the accommodating space indicator
719. Alternatively, the controller 490 will be able to recognize the user's card or
tag via the NFC reader 796.
[0674] When the user presses the door assembly opening inputter 785, the controller 490
may operate the opening/closing driver 170 to extend the door assembly 500 forward.
[0675] Referring to (c) in FIG. 35, when the user presses the accommodating space selector
711, the controller 490 may additionally activate the mode interface 770 and the initiation
inputter 712 in the inputter/outputter 700. That is, when the user presses the accommodating
space selector 711, the controller 490 may activate all of components of the accommodating
space inputter/outputter 710.
[0676] In one example, because the user may select the first chamber 130, the controller
490 may maintain the first chamber indicator 789, the first chamber selector 781,
and the door assembly opening inputter 785 in the activated state.
[0677] Additionally, the controller 490 may activate the movement selector 765.
[0678] Referring to (d) in FIG. 35, when the user presses the treatment mode inputter 714,
the controller 490 may turn on the treatment mode outputter 713 and display the detailed
menus related to the treatment mode on the notifier 760, thereby allowing the user
to select one of the detailed treatment modes via the movement selector 765. Thereafter,
when the user presses the initiation inputter 712, the controller 490 will perform
the selected treatment mode.
[0679] This also applies when the user selects the storage mode or the lighting mode. Referring
to (a) to (c) in FIG. 35, a degree of activation of the inputter/outputter 700 may
vary depending on whether the user accesses the laundry treating apparatus 100.
[0680] Additionally, the controller 490 may change the intensities or the colors of light
of the accommodating space lighting 590 and the shelf lighting 587 using the proximity
sensor 791.
[0681] Table 1 below shows whether the inputter/outputter is activated and whether the intensities
or the colors of the lightings 587 and 690 are changed based on the sensing of the
user by the proximity sensor 791.
[Table 1]
User |
When approaches proximity sensor non-sensing→sensingg |
When pressing accommodating space selector |
When moving away, during storage mode proximity sensor sensing→ non-sensing |
Note |
Outside first sensing area |
Within first sensing area |
Sensing pressing of accommodating space selector |
Outside second sensing area |
Whether inputter/outputter is activated |
OFF (standby mode) |
Accommodating space selector |
Accommodating space inputter/outputter |
OFF (standby mode) |
Accommodating space indicator |
First chamber selector |
First chamber selector |
Door assembly opening inputter |
Door assembly opening inputter |
First chamber indicator |
First chamber indicator |
Whether upper lighting is ON/OFF |
OFF |
ON(OFF) |
ON |
OFF |
Whether front line lighting is ON/OFF |
OFF |
ON(OFF) |
ON |
OFF |
Whether rear line lighting is ON/OFF |
OFF(ON) |
ON |
ON |
ON |
Whether shelf lighting (including lower lighting) is ON/OFF |
OFF(ON) |
ON |
ON |
ON |
Intensity of light |
|
First lighting intensity |
Second lighting intensity |
Third lighting intensity |
[0682] Referring to Table 1, the preset sensing area that may sense the user by the proximity
sensor 791 may be set differently for when the user approaches and when the user moves
away.
[0683] The proximity sensor 791 may be set to sense the user when the user approaches to
be within a preset first sensing area. Preferably, the first sensing area may be an
area within 30cm (centimeter) from the proximity sensor 791. The proximity sensor
791 may be set to not sense the user when the user moves away out of a preset second
sensing area. Preferably, the second sensing area may be an area within 80cm from
the proximity sensor 791. This takes into account an arm length of an adult male.
[0684] Alternatively, the first sensing area and the second sensing area may also be set
to the same range, for example, 80cm.
[0685] When the proximity sensor 791 is not able to sense the user, that is, when it is
determined that the user is outside the first sensing area, the controller 490 may
deactivate the inputter/outputter 700. This may be called the standby mode.
[0686] In this regard, to reduce the energy consumption of the laundry treating apparatus
100, the upper lighting 591, the front line lighting 5921, the rear line lighting
5925, and the shelf lighting 587 may be in an OFF state. Because the lower lighting
599 is virtually identical to the upper shelf lighting 5871 of the shelf lighting
587, the lower lighting 599 is able to operate in the same manner as the shelf lighting
587 and is therefore written together.
[0687] When the laundry treating apparatus 100 is in the storage mode to be described later,
the controller 490 may turn on the rear line lighting 5925 and the shelf lighting
587. To display the goods accommodated in the accommodating space 550 in the storage
mode, the controller 490 may allow only the rear line lighting 5925 and the shelf
lighting 587 to emit light weakly.
[0688] When not in the storage mode, and when the user is located out of the first sensing
area, the controller 490 may turn off the lightings 587 and 690 and deactivate the
inputter/outputter 700.
[0689] When the proximity sensor 791 senses that the user approaches to be within the first
sensing area, the controller 490 may activate some sub-inputters/outputters of the
inputter/outputter 700 to be selected by the user.
[0690] That is, the controller 490 may activate the accommodating space selector 711 and
the first chamber selector 781 such that the user may select one of the accommodating
space selector 711 and the first chamber selector 781. Accordingly, the user will
be able to select one of the accommodating space 550 and the first chamber 130.
[0691] Additionally, the controller 490 may also display the accommodating space indicator
719 and the first chamber indicator 789. This is to guide the user on which component
to select in the inputter/outputter 700. Additionally, the controller 490 may activate
the door assembly opening inputter 785. This is because the user may open the door
assembly 500 before using the first chamber 130.
[0692] In one example, when sensing the user's approach via the proximity sensor 791, the
controller 490 may turn on the rear line lighting 5925, the shelf lighting 587, and
the lower lighting 599.
[0693] Additionally, the upper lighting 591 and the front line lighting 5921 may be turned
on. In Table 1, the upper lighting 591 and the front line lighting 5921 are written
as ON/OFF. This is because the upper lighting 591 and the front line lighting 5921
may be turned on or off. This is because it is for showing the user the accommodating
space when the user approaches the laundry treating apparatus 100, and the accommodating
space 550 has not been selected yet.
[0694] Additionally, the upper lighting 591, the lower lighting 599, the front line lighting
5921, the rear line lighting 5925, and the shelf lighting 587 may have a dimming function.
The dimming function refers to a function that allows the intensity or brightness
of light to be automatically adjusted as desired.
[0695] Therefore, when the dimming function and ON or OFF are combined with each other,
the lightings 587 and 690 may be gradually turned on and gradually turned off. Additionally,
when the dimming function and the intensity adjustment or the color adjustment are
combined with each other, the lightings 587 and 690 may gradually change in the intensity
and color from an initial intensity or an initial color to a changed intensity or
a changed color.
[0696] Accordingly, when the user approaches, the controller 490 may gradually turn on the
accommodating space lighting 590 and the shelf lighting 587 to have a preset first
lighting intensity. In this regard, the colors of the lightings 587 and 690 may be
set in one of a plurality of adjustment modes, which will be described later.
[0697] Herein, the first lighting intensity may not be any specific intensity, but a light
intensity obtained as the light intensities of the upper lighting 591, the lower lighting
599, the front line lighting 5921, the rear line lighting 5925, and the shelf lighting
587 are adjusted and combined with each other.
[0698] The first lighting intensity means that brightness of the accommodating space 550
is weak, and is weaker than a second lighting intensity to be described later.
[0699] That is, the controller 490 may dim on the rear line lighting 5925, the shelf lighting
587, and the lower lighting 599 to have the first lighting intensity, and may also
dim on the upper lighting 591 and the front line lighting 5921 to have the first lighting
intensity or keep those in the OFF state.
[0700] In one example, the user may approach the laundry treating apparatus 100 and select
one of the accommodating space selector 711 and the first chamber selector 781.
[0701] In addition, the controller 490 may keep the accommodating space selector 711 and
the first chamber selector 781 activated such that the user may select the other selector
even after selecting one of the accommodating space selector 711 and the first chamber
selector 781.
[0702] For example, when the user selects the accommodating space selector 711, the controller
490 may keep the first chamber selector 781 activated. Additionally, the controller
490 will also keep the door assembly opening inputter 785 activated. This is because
the accommodating space 550 and the first chamber 130 may operate independently. Additionally,
the controller 490 will continue to display the first chamber indicator 789.
[0703] In contrast, when the user selects the first chamber selector 781, the controller
490 may activate the first chamber inputter/outputter 780. Additionally, the controller
490 may maintain the display of the accommodating space indicator 719 and the activation
of the accommodating space selector 711.
[0704] When the user presses the accommodating space selector 711, the controller 490 may
turn on the upper lighting 591, the front line lighting 5921, the rear line lighting
5925, the shelf lighting 587, and the lower lighting 599 to have the preset second
lighting intensity in association with control of the inputter/outputter 700.
[0705] Herein, as with the first lighting intensity, the second lighting intensity may not
be any specific intensity, but a light intensity obtained as the light intensities
of the upper lighting 591, the lower lighting 599, the front line lighting 5921, the
rear line lighting 5925, and the shelf lighting 587 are adjusted and combined with
each other.
[0706] Because the user selected the accommodating space 550, the upper lighting 591, the
lower lighting 599, the front line lighting 5921, the rear line lighting 5925, and
the shelf lighting 587 may be dimmed to have a light intensity greater than the first
lighting intensity. That is, the intensities of light in the lightings 587 and 690
may gradually increase from the first lighting intensity to the second lighting intensity.
[0707] That is, when the user presses the accommodating space selector 711, the controller
490 may adjust the light intensities of the upper lighting 591, the lower lighting
599, the front line lighting 5921, the rear line lighting 5925, and the shelf lighting
587 to be the second lighting intensity. Further, the second lighting intensity may
be greater than the first lighting intensity. That is, light at the second lighting
intensity may be brighter than light at the first lighting intensity.
[0708] In one example, when the proximity sensor senses that the user moves away from the
laundry treating apparatus 100, the controller 490 may deactivate the inputter/outputter
700.
[0709] The light intensity of the accommodating space lighting 590 may be adjusted to a
preset third lighting intensity. Even at this time, using the dimming function, the
intensities of light in the lightings 587 and 690 may gradually decrease from the
second lighting intensity to the third lighting intensity.
[0710] Herein, as with the first lighting intensity, the third lighting intensity may not
be any specific intensity, but a light intensity obtained as the light intensities
of the upper lighting 591, the lower lighting 599, the front line lighting 5921, the
rear line lighting 5925, and the shelf lighting 587 are adjusted and combined with
each other.
[0711] The third lighting intensity may be smaller than the second lighting intensity. This
is because there is no need to brightly illuminate the accommodating space 550 because
the user is moving away.
[0712] When the user does not use the accommodating space 550 or the user sets all of the
lightings 587 and 690 to be turned off, the controller 490 may deactivate the inputter/outputter
and then turn off all of the lightings 587 and 690 when the user moves away.
[0713] On the other hand, when the user uses the storage mode, which will be described later,
the controller 490 may adjust the light intensities of the lightings 587 and 690 to
the third lighting intensity.
[0714] In this regard, the controller 490 may determine that the user is moving away via
the proximity sensor 791 based on the second sensing area. The first sensing area
and the second sensing area may be the same, but may be set differently.
[0715] Herein, the description has been made assuming the case of including all of the upper
lighting 591, the lower lighting 599, the front line lighting 5921, the rear line
lighting 5925, and the shelf lighting 587, but even when the laundry treating apparatus
100 includes only some of the upper lighting 591, the lower lighting 599, the front
line lighting 5921, the rear line lighting 5925, and the shelf lighting 587, the laundry
treating apparatus 100 will be able to operate in the same manner as above.
[0716] In one example, the controller 490 may perform a security mode to safely store the
goods stored in the accommodating space 550. That is, the controller 490 may allow
the accommodating door 530 to be opened and closed only by the user registered in
the fingerprint sensor 792.
[0717] Accordingly, the controller 490 may allow the accommodating door 530 to be opened
only when the user touches the fingerprint sensor 792 for the preset fingerprint recognition
time or longer.
[0718] The security mode may also be implemented via the NFC reader 796 instead of the fingerprint
sensor 792. That is, the controller 490 may allow the accommodating door 530 to be
opened only by the user holding the registered card or tag.
[0719] (c) in FIG. 34 shows an example of information displayed on the notifier 760 when
the user presses the storage mode inputter 716.
[0720] The storage mode refers to a mode that manages the temperature and the humidity for
the goods displayed in the accommodating space 550 and allows the goods to be viewed
from the outside via the accommodating door window 531. Accordingly, when the storage
mode is selected, the controller 490 may adjust the temperature and the humidity of
the accommodating space 550 using the air circulator 560 and the air treater 570.
Additionally, the controller 490 may illuminate the goods accommodated in the accommodating
space 550 using the upper lighting 591, the lower lighting 599, the front line lighting
5921, the rear line lighting 5925, and the shelf lighting 587. As described above,
in this regard, the controller 490 may control each of the lightings 587 and 690 based
on one of a plurality of adjustment modes to be described later.
[0721] The storage mode may be selected by the user via the storage mode inputter 716 of
the inputter/outputter 700. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 36, the controller 490
may execute the storage mode when the performance of the treatment mode is ended.
[0722] Referring to FIG. 36, when the user touches the accommodating space selector 711,
the controller 490 may activate the accommodating space input/outputter 710 (S100).
When the accommodating space inputter/outputter 710 is activated, the control method
of the present disclosure may proceed with a determination step of sensing (S200)
whether the treatment mode has been selected by the user. Here, the treatment mode
selected by the user may mean that one of several treatment modes provided in detail
has been selected.
[0723] Thereafter, when a command to initiate the treatment mode selected by the user is
sensed via the initiation inputter 712, the control method of the present disclosure
may perform (S300) the selected treatment mode. In the treatment mode, the controller
490 may combine the operations of the air circulator 560, the air treater 570, and
the hanger assembly 800 to perform the selected treatment mode. This is described
in FIG. 37.
[0724] When the performance (S300) of the treatment mode is completed, the control method
of the present disclosure may determine (S500) whether the user is located within
the preset sensing area via the proximity sensor 791. The sensing area may be the
first sensing area or the second sensing area.
[0725] When not sensing the user for a preset sensing time via the proximity sensor 791
(S550), the control method of the present disclosure may perform (S700) the storage
mode. Preferably, the sensing time may be set to 3 seconds.
[0726] When the controller 490 senses the user before the sense time elapses via the proximity
sensor 791, the control method of the present disclosure may notify (S600) that the
treatment mode has ended via the notifier 760.
[0727] (d) in FIG. 34 shows an example of information displayed on the notifier 760 when
the user presses the lighting mode inputter 718. As described above, the controller
490 may control the accommodating space lighting 590 and the shelf lighting 587 based
on the preference of the user and the type of goods stored in the accommodating space
550 to change the intensities and the colors of light. To this end, various lighting
modes may be displayed on the notifier 760, and the user may select one of the various
lighting modes.
[0728] The lighting mode may be selected independently of the treatment mode or the storage
mode. That is, even while performing the treatment mode or the storage mode, the user
may select the lighting mode via the lighting mode inputter 718 and then select one
among the plurality of adjustment modes. Additionally, even when the first chamber
130 is selected, the lighting mode may be selected regardless.
[0729] Even when the first chamber 130 is selected, the user may press the accommodating
space inputter/outputter 710 to change settings of the lighting mode at any time.
[0730] In any case, when the user selects the lighting mode and then selects one of the
plurality of adjustment modes, the controller 490 may return the inputter/outputter
700 to a state representing an original mode after a preset return time elapses. Preferably,
the return time may be 5 seconds.
[0731] For example, when the storage mode is being performed, the accommodating space inputter/outputter
710 and the notifier 760 may be activated in the inputter/outputter 700. Then, the
storage mode outputter 715 may be turned on, and the notifier 760 may display a detailed
menu related to the storage mode. In this regard, when the user adjusts the intensity
or the color of the lighting via the lighting mode, the notifier 760 will display
the detailed menu related to the storage mode after 5 seconds.
[0732] Additionally, while the laundry treating apparatus 100 caring for the laundry via
the first chamber 130, the user may change settings of the lighting mode by selecting
a desired adjustment mode among the plurality of adjustment modes. The notifier 760
may output information related to the caring of the first chamber 130 again after
5 seconds.
[0733] Table 2 below shows an example of the plurality of adjustment modes that the user
may select. The adjustment mode is a mode related to detailed settings of the lighting
mode. The user may select one of the plurality of adjustment modes.
[Table 2]
|
First adjustmen t mode |
Second adjustment mode |
Third adjustment mode |
Fourth adjustment mode |
Fifth adjustment mode |
Sixth adjustmen t mode |
Upper lighting |
OFF |
White |
White |
OFF |
White |
OFF |
Front line lighting |
Daylight |
Cooldaylig ht |
OFF |
Incandlelig ht |
Cooldaylig ht |
OFF |
Rear line lighting |
White |
Daylight |
Cooldaylig ht |
Incandlelig ht |
Color mode |
OFF |
Shelf lighting (lower lighting ) |
White |
OFF |
White |
Yellow |
White |
OFF |
[0734] That is, the accommodating space inputter/outputter 710 may include the mode interface
770 that provides the treatment modes from which a treatment mode that operates the
air circulator 560 and the air treater 570 may be selected, and the lighting modes
from which a lighting mode that adjusts the intensity and the color of light of the
accommodating space lighting 590 may be selected, and the controller 490 may activate
the mode interface 770 when sensing the input of the accommodating space selector
711.
[0735] The lighting mode may provide the plurality of adjustment modes to the user. Accordingly,
the user may select one of the plurality of adjustment modes, and the controller 490
may change the intensity and the color of light of the accommodating space lighting
590 based on the one adjustment mode.
[0736] Additionally, the controller 490 may change the intensity and the color of light
of the shelf lighting 587.
[0737] In a first adjustment mode, the controller 490 may turn off the upper lighting 591,
set the color of the front line lighting 5921 to the cooldaylight, and set the colors
of the rear line lighting 5925, the shelf lighting 587, and the lower lighting 599
to white. In this regard, the intensity of the front line lighting 5921 may be set
to be weak.
[0738] Table 1 also shows whether the intensities or the colors of light of the lightings
587 and 690 are changed in the storage mode, but when the user selects one of the
plurality of adjustment modes in the lighting mode, even in the storage mode, the
intensities or the colors of light of the lightings 587 and 690 will be able to be
changed based on the selected one adjustment mode.
[0739] As shown in Table 2, the second adjustment mode to the fifth adjustment mode, like
the first adjustment mode, may allow the controller 490 to change the intensities
or the colors of light of the lightings 587 and 690.
[0740] The sixth adjustment mode is a case of turning all of the lightings 587 and 690 off.
[0741] In addition, in the lighting mode, the user may individually adjust the upper lighting
591, the lower lighting 599, the front line lighting 5921, the rear line lighting
5925, and the shelf lighting 587.
[0742] Referring to Table 1, the rear line lighting 5925 may emit light in any of color
modes that may render the white, cooldaylight, daylight, incandlelight or various
chromatic colors. Even in a case of the same white color, various colors may exist,
such as transparent and clean white, bright and bluish white, and slightly yellowish
white.
[0743] When expressing this in color temperature, white may be 4000K (Kelvin temperature),
daylight may be 5500K, cooldaylight may be 6500K, and incandlelight may be 2000K.
The color temperature is a method of expressing light of a light source as a numerical
value, and a unit is K (Kelvin temperature). The more red the light source, the lower
the color temperature, and the more blue the light source, the higher the color temperature.
[0744] (a) to (c) in FIG. 37 show respective examples of detailed treatment modes. (d) in
FIG. 37 is an example of a storage mode.
[0745] As described above, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may include the air supply
410 that is located inside the second chamber 150 and circulates air in or supplies
hot air to the first chamber 130, and the steam supply 450 that supplies steam to
the first chamber 130.
[0746] In addition, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may include the air circulator 560
that is disposed in the door assembly 500 and circulates air in or supplies hot air
to the accommodating space 550, and the air treater 570 that dehumidifies air in the
accommodating space 550.
[0747] The inputter/outputter 700 may display the accommodating space inputter/outputter
710 and the first chamber inputter/outputter 780 in the divided manner. This is because
the accommodating space 550 and the first chamber 130 are constructed independently
of each other. Accordingly, the controller 490 may control the air circulator 560
and the air treater 570 independently of the air supply 410 and the steam supply 450.
[0748] That is, the operations of the air circulator 560 and the air treater 570 may be
unrelated to the operations of the air supply 410 and the steam supply 450.
[0749] Therefore, the air circulator 560 and the air treater 570 may operate even when the
door assembly 500 is opened.
[0750] The air circulator 560 may include the circulating flow channel 563 that allows air
in the accommodating space 550 to flow and the heater 561 that heats air passing through
the circulating flow channel 563, and the air treater 570 may include the treating
flow channel 573 that allows air in the accommodating space 550 to flow and the dehumidifier
571 that dehumidifies air passing through the treating flow channel 573.
[0751] The heater 561 may include the circulating fan 565 that is located in the circulating
flow channel 563 and sucks air in the accommodating space 550 and the circulating
heater 5611 that is located in the circulating flow channel 563 and heats air passing
through the circulating flow channel 563.
[0752] The dehumidifier 571 may include the treating fan 575 that is located in the treating
flow channel 573 and sucks air in the accommodating space 550, the thermoelectric
module 5711 that cools and heats air passing through the treating flow channel 573,
and the heat dissipating fan 576 that dissipates heat generated from the thermoelectric
module to air passing through the treating flow channel.
[0753] The dehumidifier 571 may include only one of the treating fan 575 and the heat dissipating
fan 576.
[0754] Additionally, the door assembly 500 may further include the hanger assembly 800 that
is located inside the accommodating space and hangs the laundry thereon. The hanger
assembly 800 may be mounted on the hanger mounting portion 5554. In this regard, the
connection terminal contact portion 55542 and the connection terminal 8371 may be
electrically connected to each other to supply electricity to the hanger assembly
800 and transmit a control signal.
[0755] In addition, the hanger assembly 800 may include the hanger housing 832 that forms
the outer appearance of the hanger assembly 800, the hanger fan 833 that is disposed
in the hanger housing 832 to suck air in the accommodating space 550, the hanger heater
839 that heats air sucked by the hanger fan 833, and the steam unit 835 that is located
below the hanger fan 833 in the hanger housing 832 to supply steam to the laundry
hung on the hanger assembly 800.
[0756] Accordingly, the controller 490 may control the air circulator 560, the air treater
570, and the hanger assembly 800. Specifically, the controller 490 may control the
heater 561, the dehumidifier 571, and the hanger assembly 800.
[0757] More specifically, the controller 490 may control the circulating fan 565 and the
circulating heater 5611 in the heater 561, the treating fan 575, the thermoelectric
module 5711, and the heat dissipating fan 576 in the dehumidifier 571, and the hanger
fan 833, the hanger heater 839, and the steam unit 835 in the hanger assembly 800.
[0758] When the user selects the treatment mode or the storage mode via the inputter/outputter
700, the controller 490 may will be able to perform the treatment mode or the storage
mode. That is, when the user selects one of the plurality of detailed treatment modes
or one of the plurality of detailed storage modes via the inputter/outputter 700,
the controller 490 may control the operations of the heater 561, the dehumidifier
571, and the hanger assembly 800 based on the selected detailed mode.
[0759] The detailed treatment modes set operating times of the heater 561, the dehumidifier
571, and the hanger assembly 800 differently depending on the material of the laundry
or the goods. Additionally, one of the detailed treatment modes may be a treatment
mode for dehumidifying and drying the laundry hung in the accommodating space. Likewise,
the detailed storage modes set the operating times of the heater 561, the dehumidifier
571, and the hanger assembly 800 differently depending on the material of the laundry
or the goods.
[0760] (a) in FIG. 37 is an example of a preset first treatment mode among detailed treatment
modes. Referring to FIG. 36 and (a) in FIG. 37, the user may select (S200) the first
treatment mode via the inputter/outputter 700 and then perform (S300) the selected
first treatment mode via the initiation inputter 712.
[0761] For example, the first treatment mode may be a case in which the material of the
laundry is general fiber. In the first treatment mode, the controller 490 may supply
steam by operating the steam unit 835 for a preset first pattern time Ta1, and may
operate the hanger fan 833 and the hanger heater 839 for a preset second pattern time
Ta2 when the first pattern time Ta1 elapses.
[0762] The first pattern time Ta1 is followed by the second pattern time Ta2 continuously
without interruption.
[0763] For example, the first pattern time Ta1 may be 4 minutes. The second pattern time
Ta2 may be 7 minutes.
[0764] Additionally, the controller 490 may operate the dehumidifier 571 during the second
pattern time Ta2. That is, the controller 490 will operate the treating fan 575, the
heat dissipating fan 576, and the thermoelectric module 5711.
[0765] Additionally, the controller 490 may operate the heater 561 during the first pattern
time Ta1 and the second pattern time Ta2. That is, the circulating fan 565 and the
circulating heater 5611 will be operated.
[0766] Accordingly, the controller 490 may set the humidity of the accommodating space 550
to a preset first caring humidity. Preferably, the first caring humidity may be relative
humidity equal to or higher than 15% (percent) and equal to or lower than 40%.
[0767] Additionally, the controller 490 may set the temperature of the accommodating space
550 to a preset first caring temperature. Preferably, the first caring temperature
may be equal to or higher than 30°C (Celsius temperature) and equal to or lower than
45°C.
[0768] For reference, air in the accommodating space may be heated via the hanger heater
839, the circulating heater 5611, and the thermoelectric module 5711. The temperature
of the accommodating space is a temperature when the temperature of air heated via
the hanger heater 839, the circulating heater 5611, and the thermoelectric module
5711 is measured using the temperature sensor 797. The humidity is humidity measured
using the humidity sensor 795.
[0769] (b) in FIG. 37 is an example of a preset second treatment mode among the detailed
treatment modes. Referring to FIG. 36 and (b) in FIG. 37, the user may select (S200)
the second treatment mode via the inputter/outputter 700 and then perform (S300) the
selected second treatment mode via the initiation inputter 712.
[0770] For example, the second treatment mode may be a case in which the material of the
laundry is leather. In the second treatment mode, the controller 490 may supply steam
by operating the steam unit 835 for a preset first control time Tb 1, and operate
the hanger fan 833 for a preset second control time Tb2 when the first control time
Tb1 elapses.
[0771] During the second control time Tb3, the controller 490 may operate only the hanger
fan 833 while stopping the operation of the hanger heater 839.
[0772] For example, the first control time Tb1 may be 1 minute. The second control time
Tb2 may be 15 minutes.
[0773] Unlike in the first treatment mode, the first control time Tb1 during which the steam
unit 835 operates and the second control time Tb3 during which the hanger fan 833
rotates may not be continuous. In this case, there may be a pause time between the
first control time Tb1 and the second control time Tb2.
[0774] Additionally, the controller 490 may operate the dehumidifier 571 during the second
control time Tb2. That is, the controller 490 will operate the treating fan 575, the
heat dissipating fan 576, and the thermoelectric module 5711. When there is the pause
time, the controller 490 may operate the dehumidifier 571 only during a time excluding
the pause time from the second control time Tb2.
[0775] Additionally, the controller 490 may operate the heater 561 during the first control
time Tb1 and the second control time Tb2. That is, the controller 490 will operate
the circulating fan 565 and the circulating heater 5611.
[0776] Accordingly, the controller 490 may set the humidity of the accommodating space 550
to a preset second caring humidity. Preferably, the second caring humidity may be
relative humidity equal to or higher than 15% (percent) and equal to or lower than
40%.
[0777] Additionally, the controller 490 may set the temperature of the accommodating space
550 to a preset second caring temperature. Preferably, the second caring temperature
may be equal to or higher than 15°C (Celsius temperature) and equal to or lower than
25 °C. This is considering that the material of the laundry is the leather.
[0778] For the second caring temperature, the controller 490 may circulate air in the accommodating
space by not operating the hanger heater 839 and operating only the circulating fan
565 while intermittently operating the heater 561. The same applies to the air treater
570. That is, the controller 490 may circulate and cool air in the accommodating space
550 by rotating only the treating fan 575 and the heat dissipating fan 576.
[0779] (c) in FIG. 37 is an example of a preset third treatment mode among detailed treatment
modes. Referring to FIG. 36 and (c) in FIG. 37, the user may select (S200) the third
treatment mode via the inputter/outputter 700 and then perform (S300) the third treatment
mode selected via the initiation inputter 712.
[0780] For example, the third treatment mode may be a mode of dehumidifying and drying the
laundry hung in the accommodating space 550. Accordingly, the controller 490 may operate
the hanger fan 833, the hanger heater 839, the heater 561, and the dehumidifier 571
for a preset treatment time Tc. Preferably, the treatment time Tc may be 11 minutes.
[0781] That is, the controller 490 will operate the treating fan 575, the heat dissipating
fan 576, and the thermoelectric module 5711 during the treatment time Tc. Additionally,
the controller 490 will operate the circulating fan 565 and the circulating heater
5611.
[0782] Accordingly, the controller 490 may set the humidity of the accommodating space 550
to a preset third caring humidity. Preferably, the third caring humidity may be relative
humidity equal to or higher than 15% (percent) and equal to or lower than 40%.
[0783] Additionally, the controller 490 may set the temperature of the accommodating space
550 to the preset second caring temperature. Preferably, the second caring temperature
may be equal to or higher than 30°C (Celsius temperature) and equal to or lower than
45 °C.
[0784] (d) in FIG. 37 is an example of a storage mode. Referring to FIG. 36 and (d) in FIG.
37, after performing the treatment mode, when the user is not sensed during the preset
sensing time within the sensing area of the proximity sensor 791, the controller 490
may perform the storage mode.
[0785] In contrast, when the user directly selects the storage mode via the inputter/outputter
700, the controller 490 may perform the storage mode.
[0786] Because the storage mode has one purpose of storing and displaying the goods accommodated
in the accommodating space, the storage mode may not be performed for a specific time,
but may be maintained continuously until the user selects another mode. Therefore,
unlike the first to third treatment modes, there may be no separate end time.
[0787] In the storage mode, the storage temperature and the storage humidity may vary depending
on the material of the laundry or the goods stored in the accommodating space 550.
This is to care for the laundry and the goods stored in the accommodating space 550
in an optimal state. The storage temperature may be equal to or higher than 15 °C
and equal to or lower than 25 °C, and the storage humidity may be relative humidity
equal to or higher than 15% and equal to or lower than 40%.
[0788] To this end, the controller 490 may operate the air circulator 560 and the air treater
570 while stopping the operation of the hanger assembly 800 in the storage mode. That
is, the controller 490 may maintain the storage temperature and the storage humidity
by operating the circulating fan 565, the circulating heater 5611, the treating fan
575, the heat dissipating fan 576, and the thermoelectric module 5711.
[0789] Because the laundry or the goods have already been cared for via the treatment mode,
the operation of the hanger assembly 800 is not necessary in the storage mode.
[0790] In addition, when the material of the stored laundry or the goods is the leather,
the controller 490 may perform the preset first storage mode, and when the material
of the stored laundry or the goods is the general fiber, the controller 490 may perform
the preset second storage mode.
[0791] After performing the treatment mode, when the user is sensed within the sensing area
during the sensing time, the controller 490 may notify the user via the notifier 760
that the treatment mode is ended instead of performing the storage mode. Thereafter,
when the user selects the storage mode via the inputter/outputter 700, the controller
490 may perform the storage mode.
[0792] The present disclosure may be modified and implemented in various forms, so that
the scope of rights thereof is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Therefore,
when the modified embodiment includes components of the patent claims of the present
disclosure, it should be regarded as falling within the scope of the rights of the
present disclosure.